David Moyes praised Victor Anichebe and Jordan Pickford to the hilt after the duo played vital roles in helping Sunderland secure their first Premier League win of the season at Bournemouth on Saturday.
Having accumulated 10 points from a possible 15 at home going into the fixture, Bournemouth raced out the blocks and went in front inside 11 minutes through Dan Gosling.
Slick passing saw the Black Cats backline breached as Gosling tapped home Adam Smith's wicked cross from the right.
Sunderland steadied the ship and fought their way back before Anichebe turned inside the box and powerfully rammed the ball into the roof of the net to draw the Lads level.
Roared on by a vocal away end, the Black Cats continued to pile forward in the second period and while Steven Pieaar’s dismissal – for two bookable offences – looked to have swung the pendulum in the hosts’ favour, Anichebe’s bulldozing run saw him fouled by Smith in the area.
Jermain Defoe stepped up and made no mistake as he sent Artur Boruc the wrong way to score his sixth goal in 11 Premier League games.
However, the Cherries continued to put the visitors to the sword only for Pickford to pull off a string of fine stops to help the Lads secure a vital win on the south coast.
“Victor played really well for us against Bournemouth,” he said. “He caused them problems all game and they found it very difficult to deal with him.
”He got us the first goal and the minute he got the ball into his feet I shouted ‘goal’ because he has got the ability to do that.
“Then obviously he made a good run and earned us a penalty so it was a really good performance by him.”
He continued: “Jordan made two or three brilliant saves and I said to him in the dressing room that I come to expect that now so that gives you an idea of what I think of him because I expect him to make those saves, he is a really good goalkeeper.”