5th November, 2016
It was a remarkable result for the Black Cats, who continually soaked up pressure from their opponents and found themselves a man down when Steven Pienaar was sent off in the 59th minute.
The Cherries took an 11th-minute lead when Dan Gosling converted Adam Smith’s cross from close range for his third goal of the season.
The Black Cats lost 4-1 at home to Arsenal last week and once again looked vulnerable at the back, with Junior Stanislas and Joshua King both going close after the opener. But they surprisingly drew level in the 33rd minute when Victor Anichebe smacked his six-yard shot high past the reach of keeper Artur Boruc.
Sunderland began the second half well but were dealt a huge blow when Pienaar was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge on Stanislas.
Despite being a man down, David Moyes’ side still pressed and were rewarded with a spot-kick when Anichebe was fouled by Adam Smith in the area. Defoe converted against his former team as his current side hung on for a morale-boosting win.
This match looked like a home-win banker, more so after Gosling used his stomach to give Eddie Howe’s side the lead.
The visitors’ defence, which had conceded three against Everton and Palace and four against the Gunners, looked set for another uncomfortable day.
Moyes started with a 4-4-2 formation, but changed to 4-5-1 after going behind to stem the flow of Bournemouth’s attacks from the wings. It worked and gave Sunderland the chance to focus on troubling the home side.
The change in tactic paid off as Defoe, playing deeper, fed Anichebe in the area. The striker used his 6ft 3in physique to hold off his marker, turn and then crack a shot past Pickford to equalise. That was the former Everton player’s first Premier League goal since scoring for West Brom against Newcastle in May 2015 – 546 days ago.
Moyes – watching from the stands as he served a suspension – must have thought the footballing gods were not on his side when Pienaar was deservedly sent off with 31 minutes remaining.
But the spirit that had drawn Sunderland level was again present when they drove forward and Anichebe, once again tussling in the area, fell under the challenge of Smith. Some might have deemed it a weak challenge but Mike Dean pointed to the spot and Defoe dispatched the ball high into Boruc’s net.