Tony Mowbray hailed Dennis Cirkin's 'amazing' finish after the defender scored Sunderland's winner against Wigan Athletic. The Wearsiders were trailing at half-time after ex- Black Cat Charlie Wyke had put the Latics in front, but Elliot Embleton levelled early in the second period which set the stage for Cirkin to score the winner with a little under 20 minutes to go at the Stadium of Light.
Cirkin's goal - the first of his senior career - saw him meet an Alex Pritchard cross with a brave header, getting the better of a defender to leave goalkeeper Ben Amos no chance from close range. It capped an excellent performance from the defender, who was playing his first game after recovering from the hamstring injury that had kept him out for more than a month.
"You'd have to say, the goal was amazing," said Mowbray. "It was a brave header, and he wasn't favourite to get that header at the back stick - he launched himself at it.
READ MORE: Roberts and Cirkin star in excellent Sunderland performance as they beat awayday specialists Wigan
"I've had good chats with Dennis, he is a really emotional, deep, individual who is desperate to do well in football. He has the qualities I like in a footballer, the emotion he attaches to the game, and the game can take him to levels that he probably doesn't think he can match.
"I like a footballer that gets wrapped up in a match and if it is a technical, clever, game he can get involved, and if it is an emotional war he can bring his sword and his shield and go to war as well."
The victory ended Sunderland's four-game winless streak, and it also provided some welcome relief for the home fans after back-to-back goalless draws against Preston and Blackpool on Wearside. Mowbray said: "Today is an important three points, in the context of the last two home games - nil-nil, nil-nil - when we thought they were probably winnable matches for us so we were disappointed with that.
"Today was another winnable match against a team with the best away record in the league, so it was a really important three points. I'm pleased for everybody.
"I'd like to thank the supporters - they must have been frustrated. Blackpool and Preston at home, they expect to win.
"The starting point is that we have come up from League One and we have to get accustomed to this league and the attritional nature of it. The players are a little bit better than the League One players, a bit more experienced, better footballers, and it's not easy to come in and think you're going to just roll straight through it.
"It's a tough league. I just want them to feel comfortable in the division and expect to win the games that on paper we should be winning, yet every team you play gives you more than a tough game."
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