It was a goal of which Sunderland's legendary number nine Niall Quinn would have been proud. Dennis Cirkin's brave far-post header left Wigan skipper Tendayi Darikwa flattened, goalkeeper Ben Amos beaten, and the Latics floored, as Sunderland completed their second-half comeback at the Stadium of Light.
Quinn, who was back Wearside to mark the 20th anniversary of his final appearance for the club, was beaming in the directors' box as the ball hit the net. Cirkin's goal was the first of his senior career, and it marked his return to the side after more than a month out of commission with a hamstring injury.
And it crowned a move sparked by the speed of thought of Luke O'Nien to take a quick free-kick to Alex Pritchard, and then Pritchard's inviting cross. Even then, Darikwa looked favourite to win the header, right up to the point where he found himself face down on the turf, with the sound of the Sunderland fans' celebrations ringing in his ears.
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For Ross Stewart, Ellis Simms, or - back in the day - Quinn himself, it might have been meat and drink but this was a centre-forward's header from a team with no fit centre-forwards, and it came from a left-back of all people. It earned Sunderland a deserved three points that ended their run of four games without a win, and also inflicted only a second defeat on the road on a Wigan side that boasts the best away record in the Championship.
In the first half, Sunderland were the better side against a Wigan side that contained four ex-Black Cats - Max Power, Nathan Broadhead, James McClean, and Charlie Wyke - but could not convert their dominance into goals. Instead, they trailed at the break when three of those old boys combined, with Broadhead feeding the ball out wide to McClean, whose cross was tucked away by Wyke.
But, with Lynden Gooch going off with a foot injury at half-time, Tony Mowbray brought on Amad Diallo and switched from a back three to a back four, and immediately Sunderland looked more dangerous. Within ten minutes they were level, as Cirkin's low cross was turned in by Elliot Embleton.
And with a little under 20 minutes to go, Cirkin's big moment arrived. After back-to-back goalless draws at home, against Preston North End and Blackpool, and then a defeat at Swansea, this felt like an important result.
Not only because of the points gained, which lifted Sunderland to ninth in the table, nor because it was achieved without the experience of skipper Corry Evans who was suspended, but because over those last three games the Black Cats had struggled in front of goal. Between Jewison Bennette's late equaliser at Watford on September 17 and Embleton's equaliser against Wigan, Jack Clarke's consolation goal at Swansea was the only time the Black Cats had found the net in almost five and a half hours of football.
So to see Sunderland score twice to win a game will have come as a relief to Mowbray, and to supporters. And it is exactly the confidence boost the Black Cats needed as they prepare for a week which sees them visit Mowbray's old club Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night, before league leaders Burnley visit the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
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