David Moyes has praised Victor Anichebe for his battling performance in Sunderland's 2-1 victory over Bournemouth that earned them their first win of the season.
The striker scored his first goal for 18 months - and the Black Cats' equaliser - at the Vitality Stadium before winning the penalty from which Jermain Defoe bagged Sunderland's winner.
And, speaking after the match, as quoted by theSunderland Echo,Moyes lauded the free transfer signing for his never-say-die attitude that helped the North East outfit pick up a first league win since May.
Moyes said: "I always thought Victor has great ability and a lot more than people give him credit for," said the boss who revealed the 28-year-old suffered a cracked rib in the first half.
"He's strong, quick and good in the air, he doesn't always show it I'll admit that, but he did today, that was for sure. He played very well and scored a good first goal made the second goal."
Dan Gosling had come back to haunt his former boss by notching an early opener for the hosts and, despite being reduced to 10 men with the score locked at 1-1, Moyes watched on as his charges came from behind to register a massive three points on the South coast.
FT Bournemouth 1-2 Sunderland
David Moyes has his first Premier League win with Sunderland! https://t.co/9uHHZspfjw #BOUSUN #SAFC pic.twitter.com/f3m0eVkdaX
And the Scot added that his side had had to ride their luck before eventually triumphing over Eddie Howe's men.
He said: "It is a big relief, I never had any questions marks over the support of the owner or board. It is only one win, we don't move off the bottom of the league, [we] only look at [the] team above us and try and catch them.
"We played well and deserved the victory. We owed the supporters the victory, they have kept with us. We needed a win, it is only one, we need a few more.
"We got a bit of luck at the right time, we made it [luck] as well, we worked hard enough. We had to hang in and hope it is our day. We got our goal and Victor Anichebe and Jermain Defoe were fantastic. Ultimately the goalkeeper and back four did a great job today."
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