Marc McNulty’s lighting goal in midweek ranks as one of the fastest goals in Sunderland’s history.
The on-loan Reading striker found the net with 30 seconds on the clock at the Stadium of Light in the 1-1 draw against Rotherham United on Tuesday night.
It was the fastest goal scored by a Sunderland player since Daryl Murphy put the Black Cats in front against Plymouth Argyle on Wearside in August 2006.
And McNulty’s was the joint-fifth fastest goal ever scored by a Sunderland player, leaving him tied with Jackie Mordue and Jackie Robinson.
Mordue’s goal came from the penalty spot in a 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Roker Park in September 1914, while Robinson’s strike came in a 2-1 FA Cup third round defeat at Chesterfield in January 1947.
Ted Purdon holds the record for the fastest Sunderland goal, needing only 10 seconds to put Bill Murray’s side ahead against reigning champions Arsenal at Highbury in January 1954. Purdon ended up with a hat-trick in a 4-1 win.
Next on the list is Billy Hughes, who scored after 14 seconds in a 1-1 draw against Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road in December 1974.
The fastest Sunderland goal at Roker Park was scored by Bob Lee after 25 seconds in a 6-1 win over West Bromwich Albion in February 1977. Lee scored a hat-trick that day.
Then came Murphy’s goal, which remains the fastest Sunderland goal at the Stadium of Light.
More recently, Darren Bent and Fraizer Campbell both scored early goals at the Stadium of Light in 2010, the former after 34 seconds against Spurs in March, the latter after 41 seconds against Bolton Wanderers the following month.
