10 February 2024 , 18:33
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An emotional Michael Beale was close to tears as he thanked Sunderland fans for their tribute to his niece.
Sunderland are flying under Beale and overturned a half time deficit to steamroller Plymouth with three cracking goals after the break, with Jobe Bellingham and Jack Clarke firingthe Mackems into the play off places. And Beale was visibly moved by a huge fourth minute ovation by the whole of the Stadium of Light for his four year old niece Poppy who this week had a relapse in her Leukaemia battle.
Earlier this week Beale revealed his heartbreak on Instagram, writing: "Our beautiful niece Poppy just a baby and she has gone through so much in her life already.
"In December 2022 she rang the bell for the end of her cancer treatment. This week, her parents received the devastating news she had relapsed. Poppy is now fighting this horrible disease head on again. It's heartbreaking for her parents, little brother and the extended family.”
Asked about it after the match, Beale had to pause his press conference, overcome by emotion, to compose himself, and said: “It is hard to speak about it, thanks to everyone.”
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Sub Bellingham, teenage brother of Real Madrid and England star Jude, sealed the points by scoring with his first touch of the ball after coming on. He curled a right foot shot into the top corner from 18 yards.
Earlier star winger Jack Clarke netted his 14th of the season, an even more spectacular effort, dribbling down the wing, quitting inside and bending a brilliant shot in off the post.
Pierre Ekwah curled in the levelled from a free kick 20 yards out, after the 1,200 Argyle fans who made the 820 mile round trip to the North East were rewarded with the opener. Morgan Whittaker pinged a first time ball into the Mackem half and Ryan Hardie was onside because he was lurking just inside his own half. His finish was cool, rounding Anthony Patterson who was 40 yards off his line, but then chipping over the keeper when he recovered to try and block.
Beale said: “Jack’s strike was fantastic the power he generated and Jobe’s wasn’t bad.
“We only played in one half. We went bold in our line up. We are mixing up the goals, a huge positive. It is an important win because you see where it has taken us.”
Plymouth coach Ian Foster said: “It was a one-sided decision making process from the referee.”
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