Last-minute curse sends Black Cats back to drop zone

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2007

READING, England (AFP) — Sunderland dropped back into the relegation zone after Stephen Hunt's stoppage time winner gave Reading a 2-1 win here on Saturday.

It was a harsh blow for Roy Keane's side, who had what should have been a winning goal mistakenly ruled out in the last minute against Aston Villa last weekend.

Hunt's winner was also controversial with referee Steve Tanner consulting one of his assistants to check that the ball had crossed the line after Craig Gordon appeared to have blocked the Ireland midfielder's effort on the line.

The deadlock in what was a fiercely contested encounter was broken in the 69th minute by Reading's Icelandic defender Ivar Ingimarsson.

Ibrahima Sonko got on the end of a free-kick from James Harper and forced a...