Sunderland's Ross Stewart scores a penalty against Wigan
Ross Stewart has now scored eight goals in 10 games of his injury-interrupted season

Ross Stewart's third goal in as many games since coming back from injury helped the Black Cats move up to fourth in the Championship with a victory against Wigan.

Ellis Simms nodded the Black Cats ahead from a yard out after Jamie Jones made two great saves to deny Amad Diallo and Amad Ba.

James McClean hit the post for Wigan before Diallo hit the underside of the bar for the Black Cats.

The Latics had their equalizing goal moments later, with Will Keane following up AnthonyPatterson's save from Thelo Aasgaard.

Substitute Stewart added a second from the penalty spot after Tom Naylor's trip on Patrick Roberts, who went on to make it 3-1 with a shot from the edge of the area before Diallo added a brilliant fourth.

With results going their way, they moved into the play-off spots, while Wigan fell to the foot of the table after a third straight defeat.

  • Relive Thursday's EFL action as it happened

Stewart dropped to the bench in one of five changes for the trip to the DW Stadium as he started against the Latics.

Australia's Bailey Wright made his first start for the Black Cats since returning from the World Cup, while on-loan Paris St-Germain's Edouard Michut made his first start for the Wearside club.

Wigan boss Toure made three changes to his starting line-up in order to get his first win.

A superb double save from Jones - using his foot to first deny Diallo before clawing out Ba's follow-up attempt before it crossed the line - proved only to delay the Black Cats from taking the lead.

In two thrilling minutes late in the first half, McClean volleyed against the post for the hosts, Diallo was thwarted by the bar from a good position, and the teams were level.

Four minutes after coming off the bench in the second half, Stewart tied the game with a penalty that went in off the foot of the post after a foul on Roberts.

After Roberts' goal, he exchanged passes with Diallo who found the back of the net for the Black Cats.

'The fans can dream' - reaction

Wigan Athletic boss.

It's not great to cede goals. You have to go for it if you want to score goals when you lose.

When you lose a game, you don't try to defend.

We want to come back in the game, but if we do that, we can lose by a big margin.

The penalty was harsh and I don't think the team needed that kind of help. You have to react to that after that.

Tony Mowbray is the manager of the Black Cats.

The club's goal is still to stay in the league and to try and compete in the mid-table.

It might be the case at the end of the season depending on how the squad performs.

At the moment, we're not thinking of anything else, the fans can dream, because we're in the mix with a lot of good clubs."

You're 15th if you don't win two games. If you win two games you'll be fourth.