Sunderland 1 - 3 Charlton Athletic

Sunderland 1-3 Charlton

Updated: February 1, 2003, 5:09 PM UK

Sunderland's position in the Premiership deteriorated from dangerous to desperate after a calamitous game which saw them concede at least two and arguably three own goals in the 3-1 home defeat to Charlton.

• Wilko: Relegation not inevitable

The defeat and West Brom's victory over Manchester City saw Sunderland sink to the bottom of the Premiership for the first time this season.

Charlton skipper Mark Fish was credited with the first goal - his shot was on target but took two deflections - but there was no doubt about who was responsible for the next two as the hapless Michael Proctor twice saw rebounds come off him into his own net.

With the manner of this defeat relegation now appears a certainty. Perhaps not surprisingly, there were loud boos at the end and manager Howard Wilkinson was subjected to some personal abuse from individual fans who left their seats to castigate him.

It was harsh on Proctor, who could not really be blamed for either of his own goals, but Sunderland could hardly complain at the result. From the first whistle Charlton looked better organised, more confident and more gifted.

Wilkinson had tried to influence what was a must-win game by bringing in Tore Andre Flo and Stephen Wright after injury, but apart from an early scare when keeper Dean Kiely dropped Julio Arca's cross on his goal-line the Londoners were always in control.

Shaun Bartlett and Kevin Lisbie combined well after seven minutes when the South African laid a tempting pass into his strike partner's path and Lisbie hit a good shot on the run but it dipped a yard over the bar.

Sunderland found themselves cut open by some neat passing after Arca had conceded possession to Jason Euell in his own half but Claus Jensen could not capitalise.

Charlton's approach was patient and defensive, relying on breakaways and set-pieces, and it was from a corner that Fish put the visitors ahead in the 24th minute.

Proctor's clearing header dropped to the South African and though his shot was not his best ever, it deflected off Flo and then Wright before bobbling into the goal.

Four minutes later, Sunderland were cursing even worse luck. Lisbie played Chris Powell through but despite Thomas Sorensen parrying his low shot the ball rebounded of Proctor's boot and into the goal.

Sorensen pulled off a good save to tip over Jonathan Fortune's looping header before there was more calamity for Sunderland, and Proctor personally, in the 32nd minute.

Jensen's corner created uncertainty in the penalty area, the ball hit Proctor on the back and deflected past Sorensen.

The reaction from the Sunderland supporters was furious, and the home side struggled to put any decent moves together for the rest of the half, though Arca sent a direct free-kick straight at Kiely from 20 yards, then Michael Gray blasted across goal as half-time approached.

The Stadium of Light had noticeably more empty seats as the second half kicked off - there certainly were not the 36,024 supporters who had come through the turnstiles still in the ground.

Charlton could easily have scored a fourth a minute after the break, had Lisbie's pass towards Bartlett and Euell been more decisive.

Kevin Kilbane then had an opportunity to give Sunderland a small ray of hope but he sliced his shot horribly wide from 15 yards.

Euell rattled a low drive a yard past the post after Richard Rufus' cut-back, and the same player executed an almost carbon copy of the move a minute later from Bartlett's pass but with the same end result.

Lisbie's skill and pace left Sunderland looking vulnerable on several occasions and it was only a lack of a decent final ball which prevented Charlton extending their advantage.

Jensen bent a 20-yard free-kick just past the angle, then a stirring run by Kilbane at full pace carried the Irish international into the area only to see Kiely spread himself to block his powerful drive.

Kevin Phillips was the next to try his luck with a strike on the turn but he could not beat Kiely.

Euell and Jonatan Johansson executed a neat one-two and a fourth goal seemed certain but Sorensen beat away Euell's fierce shot.

With 11 minutes left, Phillips breathed life back into Sunderland after Flo invited a challenge from Fortune, went down under the tackle and referee Alan Wiley awarded a penalty.

Phillips tucked away straight down the middle and that in itself was an achievement - Sunderland's previous six penalties had all been missed.

Wilko: Relegation not inevitable

Sunderland boss Howard Wilkinson believes his team still have reason to fight on, even though defeat sent them to the bottom of the Premiership.

He said: 'I don't accept the inevitability of relegation. I genuinely think we will get out of it.

'It was a disappointing result but there were some important positives out of the match. At least we have got rid of this playing at the Stadium of Light

problem.'

Mexican waves at the Stadium of Light were perhaps a sign of black humour, but Wilko had much praise for supporters.

'For the first time since I arrived I have really started to see what people meant when they talked about the Sunderland fans,' he added.

'In the second half, helped by the fans and despite the bad luck, we didn't capitulate.'

Kevin Phillips' penalty gave the supporters something concrete to cheer about but Charlton boss Alan Curbishley said the first goal had been decisive.

'We came into this game knowing the pressure Sunderland were under and we knew the first goal would be all-important,' said Curbishley.

'How the match turned out was uncanny. Mark Fish will be claiming the first goal as his - at least his shot was goal-bound.'

Charlton are now established in the top half of the Premiership but Curbishley rejected any ambitions of Europe.

He added: 'Our run has been fantastic - we have had nine wins, five draws and three defeats. If you are winning and feeling confident results seem to come your way.'