SUNDERLAND, England (AP) — Habib Diarra produced a decisive first-half performance to lead Sunderland to a comfortable 3-0 victory over struggling Burnley in the Premier League on Monday.
Diarra, a midfielder who was signed from Strasbourg last summer, scored a goal and had another shot deflected into the net during a dominant first half. Chemsdine Talbi completed the scoring for Sunderland in the 72nd minute.
Sunderland’s unbeaten run at home extended to 12 matches, a record for a newly promoted team, and the team moved above Fulham and Everton into eighth place in the table.
There was a good deal of fortune in Diarra’s first goal in the ninth minute as his right-footed shot took an unfortunate deflection to dislodge rival goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. The touch was later ruled as an own goal by Axel Tuanzebe, making him the 12th player in Premier League history with three own goals for three different clubs (Manchester United, Ipswich Town and Burnley).
However, there was no luck in the second goal from Diarra, who fired from almost exactly the same position 23 minutes later. Dubravka managed to touch the powerful shot, but could not stop it.
Talbi added the third after cutting in from the left and finishing with class.
Burnley did not attempt a single shot on goal and finished the night in second-to-last place in the table.
Scott Parker’s side are winless in 15 league games since October. They are seven points above bottom club Wolverhampton, but five behind West Ham and nine behind Nottingham Forest, fourth from bottom.
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