Sunderland march towards Premiership
Defeat for Derby against Crystal Palace on Sunday would clinch Sunderland's automatic promotion
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Friday, 27, Apr 2007 10:14
A breathtaking strike ten minutes from time gave Sunderland a 3-2 win over Burnley at the Stadium of Light.
Goals from Daryl Murphy, a David Connolly penalty, and a stunning finish from Carlos Edwards have put the Black Cats top of the Championship with one game remaining.
Burnley had lead 2-1 through a penalty from Andy Gray and Wade Elliott's strike before the Roy Keane's side hit back to put themselves on the brink of automatic promotion.
The hosts made an explosive start and led after six minutes when Connolly's cross from the left wing was knocked in by Murphy from six yards.
Connolly then blew the chance to increase his side's lead when his penalty was saved after he had been brought down in the area.
Eight minutes before the break, Burnley stunned the home support when Ward brought down Elliott in the box to concede a penalty.
Gray stepped up and placed his spot-kick down the centre to make it 1-1.
Burnley then threatened an upset four minutes into the second-half when they took the lead through a sensational 25-yard strike from Elliott.
But Keane's side hit back just three minutes later when they were awarded a penalty after Brian Jensen brought down Edwards.
Connolly made up for his earlier miss by slotting home the spot-kick into the bottom-left corner to make it 2-2.
On 80 minutes, Edwards gave his side victory with a superb 20-yard drive from a tight angle which flew into the corner.
Striker Stern John came close to scoring Sunderland's fourth goal when his low shot tricked past the post.
In the dying minutes, Edwards nearly doubled his tally when his venomous drive was parried by goalkeeper Jensen.