AFTER successive defeats, back to back wins.

Chris Mepham scored a late winner for Sunderland as the Black Cats beat Cardiff 2-1 at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Here's how the game played out and the main talking points:

It’s as you were at the top of the Championship.

Sheffield United, Burnley and Sunderland all won on Saturday, meaning the Black Cats still trail the top two by eight points and automatic promotion remains a long shot as things stand.

But all the Black Cats can do is keep winning and see where they end up. Regardless of what happened elsewhere, this felt like an important win for Sunderland, secured thanks to Chris Mepham’s late goal after Isaak Davies had cancelled out Eliezer Mayenda’s second minute opener.

Dropping more points at home to strugglers on the back of the surprise defeat to Hull would have been hugely frustrating and, in truth, would have likely put an end to any slim top two hopes. But it’s now two wins on the bounce for Regis Le Bris’ side and a chance to maintain the pressure on those above when Preston visit on Tuesday.

It’s not often that a manager’s decision to name an unchanged side on the back of a win is met with surprise, but that was the case at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Despite getting back to winning ways at Sheffield Wednesday, the general feeling was that Le Bris would still recall a couple of his stars who were rested at Hillsborough. But the head coach went with the same again, which meant the likes of Wilson Isidor, Chris Rigg and Dennis Cirkin again had to settle for a place on the bench.

Le Bris’ decision to play Mayenda instead of Isidor instantly paid off when the striker added to his Sheffield Wednesday double with the opener after just two minutes. Picked out by Patrick Roberts, the striker took a touch to steady himself before calmly finding the bottom corner.

He very nearly ended the half as he started it after he latched onto Jobe Bellingham’s through-ball and rounded Ethan Horvath but fired into the side-netting. Isidor was introduced early in the second half but partnered Mayenda rather than replacing him. And he played a key role in the winner, firing in the cross that was turned home by Mepham. Having two in-form strikers can only benefit the Black Cats.

Sunderland were dealt a blow at the midway stage of the first half when Patrick Roberts was forced off injured.

Roberts looked to be walking OK as he made his way off the pitch and the change was hopefully just precautionary rather than anything to worry about.

With two more games to come this week and plenty on the line in the weeks ahead, Sunderland understandably won’t have wanted to take any risks. And such is the depth they have in certain areas, they were able to call on Chris Rigg from the bench.

But Sunderland lost their rhythm and way after the change and allowed Cardiff to grow into the game rather than putting it to bed.

Questions will again be asked of Anthony Patterson for his part in the away side’s equaliser. The goalkeeper failed to deal with Callum O’Dowda’s cross from the left and his claims for a foul were waved away by referee Darren Bond after Isaak Davies had tapped in at the far post.

It’s not a first for Patterson, whose mistake led to Hull City’s shock win on Wearside last month.

But the keeper made amends for the equaliser when he made a stunning save to deny Yousef Salech early in the second half, pushing the striker’s close-range shot on to the post.

Sunderland were boosted by the return of Tommy Watson on the bench, the winger’s first involvement since the December draw with Bristol City.

And Romaine Mundle looked like the winger who was tormenting defences on a weekly basis in the first 20 minutes, causing Cardiff problems every time he got the ball.

Mundle faded as Sunderland lost their way and was replaced by Watson for the last 20 minutes or so. Le Bris hinted recently that it will be one or the other in the Sunderland team, with the head coach likely to rotate on the left rather than try to force one into the side elsewhere. Having both attackers back fit is a major positive for the Black Cats ahead of the run-in and the play-offs.

The Mundle vs Watson and Isidor vs Mayenda battles are two welcome dilemmas for Sunderland's boss.