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Sunderland
Premier League
Dec 11, 2012 at 7.45pm UK
 
Reading logo

3-0

McClean (3'), Fletcher (28'), Sessegnon (90')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Sunderland out of relegation zone with win over Reading

A 3-0 win lifts Sunderland to 15th in the Premier League, while Reading remain in the bottom three.

Sunderland took a comfortable 3-0 win against Reading in the Premier League this evening.

Sunderland winger James McClean celebrates his early strike versus Reading on December 11, 2012© PA Photos

The home side were dominant in the opening half, taking the lead after just two minutes through James McClean after Adam Federici failed to clear a corner.

Steven Fletcher doubled the advantage in the 28th minute, with a casual back-heel past the Royals keeper.

Sunderland's Steven Fletcher after scoring against Reading on December 11, 2012© AP Photos

Reading looked strong when attacking, but a well-organised Sunderland defence gave them few real chances to score in the opening 45 minutes.

The visitors started the second half brightly, Noel Hunt taking a chance that drifted high in the opening minutes.

Simon Mignolet was forced to make his first save of the night in the 53rd minute, when a Nicky Shorey free kick fired towards the Sunderland goal, but the Belgian keeper parried it wide.

Reading had an appeal for a penalty turned down after Jobi McAnuff going down in the box after finding a way through the Sunderland defence.

Martin O'Neill lectures the fourth official as Brian McDermott watches the action on December 11, 2012© PA Photos

Hunt had another shot in the 88th minute, but Mignolet's reactions kept the ball out of the net.

Stephane Sessegnon added a third for Sunderland in injury time, and McClean could have added a fourth, but Federici made a comfortable save.

The win moves Sunderland out of the relegation zone and up to 15th, while Reading remain in 19th.

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Sunderland winger James McClean celebrates his early strike versus Reading on December 11, 2012
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