Managerless Sunderland began the post-Alex Neil era with their first home defeat since February as they lost out to Norwich City. Josh Sargent's goal 15 minutes from time proved the difference, but the Black Cats will feel they should have taken all three points against the promotion favourites after creating a number of clear-cut chances.
They twice hit the woodwork in the second half - the first time when Ross Stewart saw his volley turned onto the crossbar by ex-Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul, and the second when Ellis Simms' downward header struck the post. They also worked Krul on several occasions, and saw a couple of shots blocked on the line.
But in the end they slipped to their second defeat of the season - and their first on home soil since they lost to MK Dons here back in February in what was Neil's first home game in charge - and now have eight points from their first six Championship games. The match was played against a backdrop of uncertainty with Neil expected to be confirmed as Stoke City's new manager imminently.
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Assistant head coach Martin Canning, who was in charge in the absence of Neil, made two changes to the side that won against the Potters last weekend. Dan Neil returned after serving a one-match suspension and took the place of Elliot Embleton in midfield, while Corry Evans came back into the starting XI and replaced Jay Matete.
Norwich boss Dean Smith made changes for the midweek Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Bournemouth but reverted to the same side that started last weekend's home win against Millwall in the Championship. Sunderland made a strong start, with ex-Norwich man Alex Pritchard seeing an early shot blocked while Stewart sent a header straight at Krul.
At the other end, Onel Hernandez cut the ball back from the byline for Sargent and his shot was beaten away by Anthony Patterson. But Sunderland were soon back on the front foot and from a clever Pritchard corner, Neil swept the ball goalwards but his low shot was blocked on the edge of the six-yard box.
Luke O'Nien headed wide at the far post from another Pritchard corner. Midway through the half, Norwich sub Sam Byram - who had replaced the injured Liam Gibbs - went to ground claiming a penalty but referee Tim Robinson waved away the appeals, having seen no contact.
Kieran Dowell then set up a chance for the dangerous Sargent, but O'Nien made the block just in front of the goalline and the ball ended up going behind off the striker. Just after the half-hour, Pritchard teed up Lynden Gooch from a free-kick and his shot was deflected over the bar.
A miscued clearance gave Stewart a shooting chance inside the box from a tight angle, but his effort hit Krul and went behind. From a corner, the ball was cleared only as far as Evans 25 yards out and his first-time shot was blocked.
In added time, Stewart saw another shot deflected behind for a corner and from that set-piece Evans worked a shooting chance but Grant Hanley threw himself in front of the ball to divert it behind for a corner. In the second half, Sunderland again came out with all guns blazing and they should have gone in front just before the hour.
Neil's cross into the box found Stewart just a yard from goal but somehow Krul got the slightest touch to his left-foot volley and diverted it onto the crossbar. The rebound came to Pritchard who fired it goalwards but Hanley blocked with his body on the line.
A minute later, Neil tried his luck from outside the box and Krul made the save. Sunderland hit the woodwork for a second time on 72 minutes.
This time it was a Pritchard corner from the left that caused the problem, and it was met by Ellis Simms at the far post with a downward header that bounced up and hit the left-hand post before it could be scrambled away by the visitors' defence. With all those missed chances, there was always a chance that Sunderland would pay the price and that was exactly what happened on 76 minutes.
A neat Norwich move over on the left saw sub Aaron Ramsey play a low ball across the face of goal and Sargent got between Danny Batth and Dennis Cirkin to sidefoot home from two yards out.
Sunderland pushed hard for an equaliser in the time that remained, but they could not carve out the chance they needed.
How they lined up
Sunderland: Patterson, O'Nien, Batth, Cirkin, Gooch, Evans (Roberts 88), Neil, Clarke, Pritchard (Embleton 77), Simms, Stewart. Subs not used: Bass, Diamond, Wright, Hume, Alese
Booked: Cirkin, O'Nien
Norwich City: Krul, Aarons, Omobamidele, Hanley, McLean, Dowell (Ramsey 60), Gibbs (Byram 19), Nunez, Sinani (Pukki 60), Sargent, Hernandez (Cantwell 60). Subs not used: Gunn, Gibson, Sara
Booked: Krul
Referee: Tim Robinson (West Sussex)
Attendance: 37,619
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