Eliezer Mayenda’s controversial strike helps Sunderland win at Sheffield Wednesday

Eliezer Mayenda tormented Sheffield Wednesday once again as his controversial double helped Sunderland boost their Championship automatic promotion hopes with a 2-1 victory at Hillsborough. The Spaniard scored two goals during the Black Cats’ 4-0 win over Wednesday in August and he grabbed both, including a highly contentious opener after what appeared to be a handball, on Friday night to help his side move within five points of second-placed Sheffield United with a return to winning ways after successive league defeats.

A couple of early long throws from Svante Ingelsson caused chaos in the Sunderland box, which saw a strong penalty appeal waved away. The visiting defenders Leo Hjelde and Chris Mepham both challenged for the same ball and it appeared to strike the arm of the former, but a spot-kick was not given by the referee, Will Finnie.

Mayenda warmed the hands of the goalkeeper James Beadle from the edge of the area, while Josh Windass spurned a glorious 17th-minute opportunity at the other end. A driving run from Wednesday’s Djeidi Gassama opened up the space for Barry Bannan to link up with the overlapping Pol Valentín, whose low cross was swept over by Windass from 12 yards.

Callum Paterson went even closer to opening the scoring in the 26th minute when another lightning break from Wednesday resulted in the forward narrowly heading over from another Valentín cross. Michael Ihiekwe tamely headed into Anthony Patterson’s hands from a corner before Sunderland took the lead in contentious style. Max Lowe misjudged Hjelde’s long ball and despite Mayenda appearing to control with his arm, the forward slotted in via a deflection from the recovering defender.

Wednesday were level after the interval when Ingelsson capitalised on a mistake from Mepham to clip a cross for Paterson to nod home in the 48th minute – their first goal against a top-four club in seven matches this campaign. The Swedish midfielder Ingelsson almost gave the hosts the lead three minutes later when their high press forced Sunderland to give away possession, but his rising drive was tipped over by Patterson.

Sign up to Football Daily. Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football. after newsletter promotion. Sunderland carved out their first attack of the second period when Mayenda beat Ihiekwe on the outside before cutting back for Alan Browne, but his effort was blocked behind by Ingelsson.

However, Sunderland regained the lead with 19 minutes remaining through Mayenda’s free header from six yards courtesy of Trai Hume’s magnificent delivery. Romaine Mundle’s fizzing free-kick in the 84th minute was wonderfully kept out by Beadle, while Gassama fired straight into the arms of Patterson from the edge of the box.