Sunderland 0 - Southampton 1: M'Vila pays the penalty as Black Cats implode



Dusan Tadic's penalty gave Southampton all three points



SAM ALLARDYCE had his head in his hands as Yann M'Vila pressed the self-destruct button.

 

The French midfielder was Sunderland's best player until he needlessly challenged Ryan Bertrand just inside the box.

Winger Dusan Tadic - the game's top man - stepped up and converted the 69th-minute penalty in style.

Sunderland boss Allardyce said: "We gave a soft penalty away, which was the biggest sickener for us.

"He didn't need to do it because the player was going nowhere."

 

Forward Duncan Watmore, 21, was handed his first senior start for the Black Cats.

Operating on the left, he was full of energy and endeavour in the early stages, but it was Saints who posed the first serious threat on the quarter hour as Tadic forced Costel Pantilimon to make a save.

And the giant Romanian had to pull off another stop on 22 minutes after Sadio Mane was on the end of a deflected cross.

 

M'Vila, the standout Sunderland player, made the error that cost them the result

The home side's first real dig at goal arrived 10 minutes later - and it was an embarrassing sliced effort from Ola Toivonen.

Sunderland's lack of punch prompted Allardyce to bring on fit-again Fabio Borini at half-time. But the Wearsiders still looked vulnerable and the defence parted for Mane to crack a drive that Pantilimon pushed out.

And Mane was the danger man again as DeAndre Yedlin made a brave headed clearance off the line.

 

Sunderland survived once more on the hour as Sebastian Coates hacked away Steven Davis' shot.

But the keeper was all on his own when Saints struck from the spot.

Southampton boss Ronald Koeman said: "The target for the season has to be to reach Europe. It would be like if we won the title. Fourth place is maybe too difficult."

MAN of the MATCH: DUSAN TADIC - The talented Serbia winger tormented Sunderland with his flair and menace and netted his spot-kick with aplomb.

SUNDERLAND: Pantilimon; Yedlin, Coates, Kaboul, Jones; M'Vila, Gómez (Defoe 74), Johnson, Toivonen (Borini 45); Watmore, Fletcher (Rodwell 70).

SOTON: Stekelenburg; Yoshida, Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand; Davis, Clasie (Romeu 78), Ward-Prowse; Mane (Juanmi 83), Tadic (Caulker 90), Pellè.

Ref: M Jones

Att: 41,781