Enzo Le Fee penalty sinks Chelsea as Sunderland end winless run

Sunderland ended their winless run in the Premier League with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Chelsea at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats entered Sunday’s game on a worrying run of form, with Thursday night’s Europa League loss to Dinamo Zagreb the latest setback, but an energetic first-half display against the Blues was rewarded when Enzo Le Fee scored from the penalty spot.

Chelsea enjoyed the bulk of possession after the break but struggled to make it count as they slipped to a fourth league defeat of the season and dropped out of the top four.

Victory ended a long winless run for Sunderland, who had last taken three points in the Premier League against Fulham back in August. They remain in the relegation zone but at least climbed off the foot of the table.

Regis Le Bris made eight changes from the Dinamo defeat, which included a first league start of the season for Chemsdine Talbi, while Chelsea made two switches from last weekend’s win over Manchester United as former Black Cat Jordan Henderson started alongside Pep Chavarria.

Sunderland were handed a blow just four minutes into the match when captain Granit Xhaka was forced off and Jules Ahoka came on.

An even-paced start saw Ahoka win the ball and play Talbi through. The winger’s cross was met by Trai Hume, who had a hooked strike blocked by the defence.

Talbi was at the heart of another promising chance, sending in a great cross for Brian Brobbey, who volleyed wide.

At the other end Cole Palmer charged into the area and was bundled over, but a VAR check deemed contact happened outside the box.

Morgan Rogers then came close to opening the scoring when his powerful header from close-range flew wide.

Brobbey looked to cause problems again and raced through on goal before firing a shot over the crossbar from the left.

The striker proved too much of a handful for Levi Colwill, who brought him down in the area and referee Jarred Gillett awarded a penalty.

Le Fee stepped up and coolly dispatched the spot-kick into the bottom left corner past Mike Penders in the 36th minute.

Romeo Lavia blasted a long-range effort wide and Robin Roefs comfortably held Pedro Neto’s strike as Chelsea searched for a way back into the game before the break.

Sunderland started the second half well as a quick move saw Hume play a low pass in for Luke O’Nien, but the defender’s shot was clawed away by Penders.

Thomas Meunier made an important intervention to stop substitute Estevao as Chelsea began to gain control of the game, but they struggled to make the most of their possession and Roefs easily held a chipped effort from Malo Gusto.

Sunderland nearly found a second when Le Fee threaded a pass into Wilson Isidor and his shot was saved by Penders, the rebound bouncing off the striker and being scrambled away.

Moments after being introduced Chelsea substitute Geovany Quenda hooked a strike wide and the visitors ramped up the pressure as Rogers’ teasing cross was glanced away.

Talbi broke down the left flank before blasting narrowly wide of an upright, while former Sunderland loanee Danny Welbeck nodded narrowly over the bar in stoppage time as Chelsea were shut out.