Chelsea 2-1 Sunderland

PAOLO Di Canio`s first match in charge of Sunderland ended in defeat as Chelsea came from behind to win at Stamford Bridge.

A win for Wigan Athletic later in the day would have plunged the Black Cats into the relegation zone, but the Latics could only draw 1-1 with Queens Park Rangers.

Sunderland took the lead when Blues` defender Cesar Azpilicueta put through his own goal. An own-goal from Matt Kilgallon drew the hosts level after the break, before Branislav Ivanovic won the game.

Di Canio rung the changes in naming his first starting XI as Sunderland boss, bringing Connor Wickham, Kilgallon and Seb Larsson in for Danny Graham, Titus Bramble and James McClean. Youngsters Mikael Mandron and Jordan Laidler made up the substitutes bench.

Rafa Benitez opted to leave Frank Lampard, John Terry and Fernando Torres on the bench, with Ryan Bertrand deputising for the injured Ashley Cole once more.

Sunderland had a chance as early as the third minute when Craig Gardner won an arial duel, releasing Stephane Sessegnon to lash into the side netting from an acute angle inside the hosts` penalty area.

Fifteen minutes later Kilgallon did well to twice block Demba Ba`s route to goal before Danny Rose drove forward on the break, releasing Adam Johnson who saw his curled effort blocked by the face of David Luiz.

On the stroke of half time, Sunderland led when John O`Shea flicked on Johnson`s corner, Azpilicueta turning the ball over his own line under pressure.

Half-time: 0-1

Two minutes after the re-start Chelsea were level when Torres squared to Oscar on the edge of the 18 yard box, the Brazilian seeing his blocked shot spin off the boot of Kilgallon and squirm over the line.

After 10 second half minutes Chelsea were in front for the first time when David Luiz hammered an effort towards goal on the half-volley, his central defensive partner Ivanovic deflecting past the unfortunate Mignolet.

Half-time substitute Torres had two good chances to score, first connecting with a deflected shot to nod narrowly over, before curling just over the crossbar from the edge of the area after Yossi Benayoun`s set-up.

Full-time: 2-1

Chelsea: Cech; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Luiz, Bertrand; Mikel, Ramires; Oscar, Mata (Lampard), Hazard (Benayoun); Ba (Torres).

Unused subs: Turnbull (GK), Torres, Ferreira, Marin & Terry.

Sunderland: Mignolet; Bardsley, O`Shea (c), Kilgallon, Rose; N`Diaye, Gardner (Colback); Larsson (McClean), Sessegnon, Johnson; Wickham.

Unused subs: Westwood (GK), Graham, Mangane, McClean, Mandron & Laidler.

Attendance: 41 500

Referee: Mr N Swarbrick.