The striker had been on a goalless run of over two years since his move from Swansea, but helped make the difference against Everton.
Sunderland striker Danny Graham finally scored for the club for the first time on Saturday, netting the opener in a pivotal 2-0 win over Everton, more than two years after he arrived from Swansea City.
It has taken Graham 28 games to open his account, but the former England Under-20 striker has been given a new chance under Dick Advocaat, and admitted to BBC Sport that his time at Sunderland until now had been a difficult period for him.
“It has been a long time, a frustrating couple of years at the football club,” Graham said after the match.
“We have to see how results go, we have put the pressure on everyone else. We need top focus on next week’s game. The momentum is there and we need to build on it.”
The 29-year-old opened the scoring after Jordi Gomez’s shot struck Graham, who knew little about it, and looped over Tim Howard.
Graham’s goal was certainly not the best goal the striker will ever score, but seeing as how long it has taken for the former Middlesbrough man to find the net for the Black Cats, it’s unlikely he’ll be happier to see his name on the scoresheet.
| Position | Team | Total Scoring Att | Ontarget Scoring Att | Goals | Appearances | Mins Played | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danny Graham | FW | Sunderland | 8 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 501 |
Given it’s importance in setting Sunderland up for the win against Everton, it could well mean Graham has finally paid off a big chunk of his transfer fee in one fortuitous swoop.
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