Sam Allardyce hailed a huge win at Norwich after his side ran out 3-0 victors over Norwich City.
Fabio Borini fired the visitors ahead with half-time approaching, before Jermain Defoe notched early in the second half.Duncan Watmore's goal in the final minute added the icing on the cake as Sunderland moved to within a point of the Canaries as well as inflicting a goal difference swing of six.
“The result makes us all feel that little bit better based on the size of the game,” Allardyce said.
“Norwich are immediately above us and we've closed that big gap to just a point with a game in hand for us.
“That all-important clean sheet was a key element in our victory today.
"We defended hard, with plenty of long balls into the box which we coped with well.
“We played some nice attacking football with quality goals at the end of it, and we could have had a couple more with the chances in the second half.
“Young Duncan Watmore came in and got a nice goal for us, and Jermain Defoe's goal came at just the right time at the start of the second half.”
He added: “It's a fantastic 3-0 win for us.
“This is hopefully going to spur us on to more victories, because we need them to get safe.”
Allardyce also reserved special praise for the supporters, with more than 2,000 fans making the long trip to Carrow Road for the early televised kick-off.
“We can enjoy our weekend – we deserve that – and the fans cheered us all the way along again.
“We sold every single ticket we could get and we're sending them home happy. That long journey back won't seem as long now.”
