Sunderland picked up a much-needed 3-0 win against Reading in the English Premier League to move themselves out of the relegation zone.
James McClean, Steven Fletcher and Stephane Sessegnon scored the three goals for the home side at the Stadium of Light, as Reading crashed to their fifth straight defeat.
Sunderland are now in 15th place on 16 points, with three teams - Southampton, Aston Villa and Wigan - right below them on 15 points.
Reading stay second bottom having picked up a paltry nine points from 16 matches.
McClean fired Sunderland into the lead in the third minute, smashing a powerful strike from just outside the box. Fletcher, who was a major doubt for the game after missing the Chelsea match due to an ankle injury, came close soon after to make it 2-0, but his effort was well saved by Adam Federici.
The Scotland international was not to be denied for much longer, however, as he scored Sunderland's second with a moment of absolute brilliance. Danny Rose's low cross found Fletcher inside the box with his back to goal, and the 25-year-old manufactured an outrageous backheel beyond the Federici and into the net.
"Fletcher had done absolutely no work whatsoever," Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill said. "When you were talking to me yesterday (Monday), I genuinely wasn't sure that he could play in the game.
"He came out this morning just to do a bit of a loosener and thought he wanted to give it a go.
"I personally thought if he could see it to halftime and just slightly into the second half, he would do great for us.
"He has been terrific for us, really terrific. You just feel that he is likely to get you a goal in there.
"Danny Rose did very, very well, but when it came in, he turned it into a goal for us and it was great.
"I didn't want people starting to get carried away with it.
"I just want to try with all my might to put a team together here that not only can compete, but that a team that people would look forward to seeing play."
Reading tried their best to get into the game, but were never really convincing going forward, with Sessegnon ensuring all three points with a goal in stoppage time.
