MICK McCarthy says he "couldn't give a fiddle" about statistics, but two significant ones were cast asunder during Sunderland's victory against Burnley.

Firstly, the Black Cats had not scored in the first half for ten games and, secondly, Michael Bridges finds the back of the net generally once in every leap year.

At the weekend both statistics were rendered obsolete in the 2-1 triumph when Wearside's prodigal son, Bridges, set up Julio Arca inside 35 minutes before helping himself to his second goal in four years when he stabbed home Liam Lawrence's cross from a yard out.

At the current rate, Bridges' goal on Saturday now means he scores once a month. If he nets next week it will be one goal every nine-and-a half days.

Sunderland hardly set the Stadium of Light on fire on Saturday with a swashbuckling show of attacking verve and skill, but there was a definite improvement on recent weeks.

And Bridges, in his second start of the season, was the catalyst to his side's victory with one goal and one assist. On several occasions the 26-year-old striker displayed touches of Premiership class. Notably when the Black Cats opened the scoring.

He seized upon Robbie Blake's misplaced pass and slalomed forward before sliding a perfectly weighted through-ball to the on-coming Arca, who thumped past goalkeeper Brian Jensen from inside the box.

Unfortunately for the Wearsiders, Burnley levelled 90 seconds later though Graham Branch, much to McCarthy's 'bloody' annoyance.

He said: "I think we were still having euphoric recall from the goal and not doing the job we should be doing.

"I think there were four or five diving in, there was missed tackles, and we didn't stop or deal with the cross properly.

"It was absolutely sloppy, dreadful, garbage defending.

"We had a great bit of magic from Bridgey to open them up and a great finish from Julio, and then we let them back in.

"But it was great that we won the game because at different times we might have had a problem and conceded another one."

Former Sunderland assistant manager Steve Cotterill was disappointed not to come away from the Stadium of Light with a result, but says he enjoyed his first return to Wearside since leaving 20 months ago.

He said: "I got quite a nice greeting when I came, which I was very pleased about, from lots of people; supporters and the people who work here.

"So all in all it hasn't been too bad a day."

Unlike most sides who visit the Stadium of Light, Burnley took the game to the home side and on another day could have come away with a point.

The Sunderland boss admitted his team had been in a tough contest and was full of praise for the visitors.

"But despite Burnley's endeavour, he felt his side deserved the victory.

"I think they've (Burnley) acquitted themselves well in the game and done probably what I expected them to do, but I don't think Thomas Myhre has had a save to make in the game," said McCarthy.

"They've had some decent play, especially in the second half, because we had some anxious times. They had threaded balls into feet and crosses in the box but I can't think of Tommy (Myhre) having to make a save.

"I think (Brian) Jensen made a couple of good saves and we've been in behind them a few times but perhaps did not deliver the quality of cross we should have done at the time.

"In the second half on the break, just after we got the second goal I thought we could have killed them off. The longer we didn't, they stuck at it and caused us a few anxious moments.

"We weren't brilliant or more outstanding than Burnley but I think if there was a deserved winner, it was us and I don't think that can be argued to be honest."

McCarthy made two changes from last week's victory at Cardiff, one forced, Neill Collins in for the injured Steve Caldwell, and one through choice, Bridges in for Elliott.

The Sunderland boss felt it was important to keep his strikers fresh for what plans to be a tough Festive period.

He said: "Sometimes you mix and match and try to get a formula that works. It is unfortunate for strikers but that is what happens when they're not scoring.

"I left (Marcus) Stewart and Elliott in for a lot of games because I thought it was a better partnership.

"But when you get so far and you're not scoring you have to freshen it up.

"We've been relying a lot on Stephen Elliott but I think he just needed a break this week."

Result: Sunderland 2 Burnley 1.

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