A brace of penalties from Jordi Gomez handed Sunderland a crucial 2-1 win against Southampton at the Stadium of Light today.

With the survival hopes of the Black Cats still up in the air, three points were vital for Dick Advocaat's men.

Southampton's Sadio Mane had levelled the match following a defensive mix-up just 60 seconds after the opener, but a James Ward-Prowse red card hindered their hopes of getting something from the match.

Below, Sports Mole rates the players who were involved on Wearside.

SUNDERLAND

Goal

Costel Pantilimon: Unlucky to be clattered into by his own teammate for the first goal. Made a solid stop in injury time to ensure that the points were safe. (6/10)

Defence

Billy Jones: Lively during the first half, the right-back marauded forward at will. When Sunderland regained the lead, he settled, supplying a sensible performance. (6/10)

Patrick Van Aanholt: Not as willing to attack down the left as usual, though he caused problems when he did. (5/10)

John O'Shea: Took a blow to the head in a collision with Long early on and never fully recovered. Subbed on the half-hour mark. (5/10)

Sebastian Coates: At fault for the Southampton goal, clumsily smashing into his own goalkeeper. Improved after the break. (6/10)

Midfield

Seb Larsson: Delivered a number of good set pieces, as he often does. Struggled to create chances from open play, however. (5/10)

Lee Cattermole: Played a couple of very nice passes, the second of which set up the opportunity from which Sunderland won their second penalty. Picked up his standard booking midway through the second half. (6/10)

Jordi Gomez: The two-goal hero, dispatching both penalty kicks with superb confidence, despite the pressure on each one. (7/10)

Attack

Jermaine Defoe: Won the second penalty, albeit via a poor first touch. Often selfish when others were in better positions, but he is always been that kind of striker. (5/10)

Danny Graham: An excellent display of hard work and effort, the forward gave his all. His graft caused problems at the back for Southampton, and he had a crucial hand in both penalties. (7/10)

Connor Wickham: Like Graham, he worked extremely hard, often not being supplied the ball when he had made strong runs. Needs to add goals to his game, but that is easier said than done. (6/10)

Substitutes

Santiago Vergini: On for the injured O'Shea, the defender put in a number of good blocks to fend off the Saints. Much improved from his disaster against them last time around. (6/10)

Jack Rodwell: Emerged from the bench as Advocaat attempted to close the game out. (6/10)

Adam Johnson: Came on in a double change alongside Rodwell. (6/10)

SOUTHAMPTON

Goal

Kelvin Davis: Guessed correctly for the first penalty, but, such was the accuracy of the strike, he could not keep it out. Did not have too many saves to make. (6/10)

Defence

Nathaniel Clyne: Disappointing in an attacking sense today, which is not usually the case. When he did get up the pitch, his play lacked the quality that it often displays. (5/10)

Ryan Bertrand: Similar to Clyne in an attacking sense, his only contribution of note was a cross towards the head of Pelle. Seemed troubled by Graham's constant running. (5/10)

Maya Yoshida: Sent a poor header into the air, which encouraged Graham to attack and win the first spot kick. (5/10)

Jose Fonte: Another Saints defenders who was not up to the standard that they have set. A rare poor match in a season of excellence. (5/10)

Midfield

Toby Alderweireld: Deployed just in front of the defence in the absence of Morgan Schneiderlin, there is no doubt that the Belgian is better when part of the back four. (5/10)

Victor Wanyama: Not as imposing as usual. Showed some neat touches, but did not dominate against Cattermole and his teammates in the middle. (6/10)

James Ward-Prowse: Harshly dismissed for his foul on Defoe. Had played pretty well up to that point, although his set-piece delivery was not particularly impressive today. (6/10)

Sadio Mane: In the right place at the right time to knock in the equaliser, but the Senegalese winger failed to exploit the Black Cats with his pace when it was required. (6/10)

Shane Long: Deployed wide to support Pelle, the Irishman was replaced at the break. It was perhaps due to the knock that he received in a collision with O'Shea, although it could also have been because his involvement was rare. (5/10)

Attack

Graziano Pelle: Barely had a sniff of goal until injury time, when he cannoned a shot in Pantilimon's direction. Wasted a header during the first half. (5/10)

Substitutes

Filip Djuricic: Added a spark after the break having replaced Long. He tried to create, and was involved in a lot of Southampton's best moments in the second half. (6/10)

Steven Davis: Came on after the hosts had retaken the lead. The midfielder did not get involved as much as he would have liked. (5/10)

Eljero Elia: Pretty anonymous during his 20 minutes on the pitch. (5/10)