Ellis Simms believes his partnership with Ross Stewart is causing fear amongst Championship defences after the pair both got on the scoresheet against Blackburn Rovers on Boxing Day. Stewart's outing was his first start since August, with a thigh injury having kept him sidelined for a lengthy spell, while on-loan Everton man Simms also missed seven games with a toe problem.
But they have still scored 13 goals between them - seven in nines games for Stewart, and six in 16 for Simms - with ten of those scored when the strikers have operated as a pair.
"Ross is a fantastic player and with his workrate as well, any striker would be happy to play alongside him," said Simms, who came off the bench to score the winner against third-placed Rovers.
"I think we are both big and both powerful. When me and Ross play together we seem to be causing defences problems.
READ MORE: Ross Stewart returns but Ellis Simms gave Sunderland lift-off against Blackburn Rovers
"I'm sure defences look at us and think that they don't want to play against us. We are building a great chemistry and connection.
"If we continue playing together it will get stronger and stronger and we can bring the best out of each other. But if he's on his own, or I'm on my own, up there, we just support each other. Both of us were on the scoresheet against Blackburn, so I'm delighted."
Stewart and Simms are thriving on the service of Sunderland's creative players, with the likes of Jack Clarke, Patrick Roberts, Alex Pritchard, and on-loan Manchester United forward Amad, providing the ammunition at various times this season. "It is delightful to watch," said Simms of playing alongside those creative sparks.
"They are all technicians. You know you are getting service when they are playing behind you with all of the little touches and tricks.
"As soon as you make a run you know that they are going to find you. Having the quality in the attacking areas is delightful. Everyone is pushing each other on and getting the best out of each other."
Sunderland fell behind against Blackburn inside 20 minutes when an unlucky ricochet saw the ball go in off Stewart as the striker tried to defend a set-piece. But less than five minutes later Stewart won and converted a penalty to level the match, before Simms came on to score the winner in injury-time at the end of the match.
Simms said: "It's a great feeling to get the three points, and the fans were amazing, so to get the three points for them means a lot. The ball dropped to me so I had to stay composed, I took a little touch inside and then literally it was little toe-poke and I watched it roll in in slow motion.
"As soon as it went past the line I was delighted, there was so much emotion. It was an unbelievable feeling. We showed massive resilience because sometimes when you go behind at home it can be difficult.
"But, as you saw, the fans got behind us and then we scored fairly quickly afterwards through Ross with a good penalty. I thought we had a few chances, but in the end we got the three points and that's the main thing.
"It was a brilliant occasion, and it [the goal] came in the last minute, and with 44,000 fans there - it was immense. The feeling was brilliant.
"We've got two games ahead, one on Thursday [at Wigan] and then one on New Year's Day [at Blackpool] so it is going to give us momentum so hopefully we can carry that into the next two games."
READ NEXT:
- New Wigan boss Kolo Toure ready for the challenge as he seeks first win against Sunderland
- Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray backs 'amazing' Luke O'Nien to make it to the Premier League
- Tony Mowbray on Sunderland's 'deserved' win against Blackburn as injury problems mount
- Blackburn boss Jon Dahl Tomasson on the hurt of conceding late to lose at Sunderland
- Sunderland 2-1 Blackburn Rovers player ratings as Stewart, Amad and Ballard star
