Nathan Broadhead strikes late to sink Gillingham and send Sunderland back into play-off places

Substitute Nathan Broadhead scored in added time on his comeback from injury to rescue Sunderland and fire the Black Cats back into the play-off places. The Wearsiders looked destined for a second successive goalless draw as they toiled in vain against struggling Gillingham at the Stadium of Light, and more dropped points would have put their chances of a place in the play-offs in real jeopardy.

Luke O'Nien had headed against the post and Patrick Roberts had brought a good save out of Aaron Chapman in the first half, but Sunderland could not find a way through and it looked as though they had run out of time. That was until on-loan Everton striker Broadhead marked his return with the all-important goal in the fifth minute of added time.

The win saw Sunderland leapfrog next week's opponents Oxford to go sixth in the table, a point clear of the U's. And it kept Alex Neil's side firmly in the play-off race.

Neil made two changes to the side that drew at Lincoln last time out, with Alex Pritchard and Danny Batth returning from injury, and they replaced Dan Neil and Lynden Gooch. Gillingham boss Neil Harris was forced into one change to the side that won at Accrington Stanley last Saturday, with Stuart O'Keefe missing out through injury and his place taken by teenager Josh Chambers who was making his first League start.

Sunderland dominated the first half but struggled to fashion clear-cut chances against the Gills defence. Jack Clarke had an early half-chance but failed to make good contact, allowing Chapman to make a simple save, and Pritchard curled an effort over the top from 25 yards.

O'Nien went closest midway through the half when he met a Clarke cross with a flicked header which beat Chapman but hit the bar and