Sunderland 0 Albion 1: Minteh goal beats Black Cats

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Winger's second-half strike makes it three wins out of four in 1-0 victory at the Stadium of Light.

Bruce Talbot

2026-03-14T17:00+00:00

Yankuba Minteh acknowledges the Albion fans after putting his side in front. Photo: James Boardman

Albion’s climb up the Premier League continued with a third win in four at the Stadium of Light.

Yankuba Minteh’s 59th-minute goal – his second of the season – rewarded a disciplined Albion performance high on organisation and work-rate with the experienced core of the side again impressive.

The home side had threatening spells of their own but Bart Verbruggen was only called upon a couple of times as the back four – with Lewis Dunk and Jan Paul van Hecke outstanding – provided a formidable barrier as Albion clinched their first win at Sunderland since 1981 to move into the top ten.

Four changes saw Dunk, James Milner, Minteh and Danny Welbeck, who had a loan spell at Sunderland in 2015, come into the team that lost to Arsenal last time out.

Albion should have taken an early lead.

Minteh produced a great cross from the left on nine minutes which Jack Hinshelwood guided goalwards from six yards out, but Melker Ellborg miraculously kept it out. The corner was cleared to Pascal Gross on the edge of the box and his shot whistled past the right-hand post.

Melker Ellborg in Sunderland's goal is beaten by Yankuba Minteh's shot. Photo: James Boardman

Sunderland responded and Dunk made a superb block to keep out Chemsoine Talbi’s volley, the rebound dropping fortunately into Verbruggen’s hands. Verbruggen was tested from range by Habib Diarra 30 yards out but that was a comfortable save.

Hinshelwood had another chance when Welbeck beat the offside trap and picked out his unmarked teammate 15 yards out, but Hinshelwood shot straight at Ellborg from a central position.

The impressive van Hecke was next to threaten at a corner, but his close-range volley was blocked.

Delight for Yankuba Minteh and his teammates after he fired Albion in front. Photo: James Boardman

Sunderland built some pressure before the break with Verbruggen pushing away Lutsharel Geertrudia’s right-foot shot from 25 yards and the hosts started the second half on the front foot too.

Chris Rigg thought he’d volleyed them in front after Albion failed to clear a left-wing cross but Omar Alderete had strayed offside in the build-up.

Sunderland were on top when Albion struck with one of the most bizarre goals of the season. A corner was played back to Minteh on the left and he went past a defender and scooped the ball goalwards from virtually on the line. van Hecke – played onside by Granit Xkaha - blocked Ellborg’s vision as it found the net.

Diego Gomez battles with Sunderland's Noah Sadiki. Photo: James Boardman

The Albion fans high up behind the goal weren’t complaining and they should have been celebrating again when Mats Wieffer found Diego Gomez unmarked 15 yards out but the Paraguayan lifted his shot high over the bar.

Minteh was booked for pushing Luke O’Nien and when he brought down Trai Hume seconds later the home fans were baying for a second yellow. But referee Thomas Kirk awarded a free kick instead, which Granit Xhaka blasted into the wall and Minteh was immediately withdrawn.

Jack Hinshelwood battles for the ball with Omar Alderete. Photo: James Boardman

The home fans found their voice but Sunderland’s storm had blown itself out and eight minutes of stoppage time were negotiated safely to the sound of Albion fans celebrating a second successive away win and the generous applause from the home supporters to acknowledge Welbeck when he was substituted.

Albion: Verbruggen, Wieffer, Dunk, van Hecke, Kadioglu, Minteh (De Cuyper 76), Gross, Milner, Gomez (Veltman 90+4), Hinshelwood (Ayari 88), Welbeck (O’Riley 90+4).