A TOP six finish, that looked most unlikely just a couple of weeks ago, is now well within Sunderland’s grasp – thanks to the most unlikely goal hero.

The Black Cats climbed into the Championship play-off places with a brilliant come from behind victory at West Brom that not only provided a huge boost to their own hopes but severely dented those of the hosts.

Blackburn and the Baggies in eighth and ninth both have games in hand but they’re against Burnley and Sheffield United respectively. Regardless of what happens in those midweek games, what an occasion it promises to be at the Stadium of Light when Watford visit next Saturday.

And what a response from Sunderland after falling behind in the most frustrating of circumstances at West Brom. The Baggies undeservedly led after a John Swift penalty in first half stoppage time. Luke O’Nien made the tackle that was adjudged to be a foul but it was Dennis Cirkin who gave the ball away in the build-up.

Cirkin more than made amends, the defender popping up with the equaliser early in the second half with a brilliant header before hammering home the winner late on. Talk about a tale of two halves for the youngster. And what another show of character from this young Sunderland team.

On the back of that deflating midweek draw with Huddersfield and the sucker punch late in the first half, they became the first team to win at the Hawthorns since October. Mowbray has long played down Sunderland's top six ambitions and after the home draws with Hull and Huddersfield it looked like the Black Cats would come up just short. But it might well be that they've timed their run to perfection.

West Brom started the game like a team boosted by successive wins on the road.

From the first minute, Carlos Corberan’s side were positive, causing early problems down both flanks and having a penalty shout waved away when Abdoullah Ba challenged Swift. The Hawthorns was bouncing, the home fans buoyed by the bright start and willing West Brom forward.

But Sunderland’s youngsters stood tall, weathered the early storm and by the midway point of the first half had enjoyed more than 60% of possession and were dictating the pace of the game. They had chances too. Joe Gelhardt had a close-range volley deflected just over and Amad was just beaten to a loose ball by home keeper Alex Palmer.

Sunderland’s forward players were causing problems with their movement and neat interplay and Jack Clarke almost broke the deadlock after linking up well with Gelhardt, Palmer making a fine save to his left. Amad was next to try, shooting just wide from distance.

Come the late stages of the first half, the early anticipation in the stands had been replaced by anxiety – which made the opening goal from the penalty spot in stoppage time all the more frustrating. It was O’Nien who made the tackle on Swift but it should never have got that far. Sunderland had possession after a drop ball which followed a bizarre incident when Pierre Ekwah needed treatment when an attempted Clarke crossfield pass hit him at close range.

From the restart, Cirkin gave the ball away, which forced O’Nien to come across and make the challenge. Swift picked himself up to fire home from the spot.

West Brom were buoyed by their opener and started the second half as they had the first – and were only denied a second by a series of brilliant defensive blocks. Sunderland threw bodies in front of the ball and made five blocks in quick succession. Brave at one end, brilliant at the other. Soon after, Gooch managed to dig out a cross and Cirkin made amends for his first half mistake by finding the top corner with a superb header.

Sunderland fancied it. Gooch, creator of the first, almost scored a Sunderland second when a low drive was saved by the feet of Palmer.

A draw would have kept Sunderland’s play-off hopes alive but they pushed for the winner. Substitute Alex Pritchard played it into the path of Cirkin inside the box and he hammered home.