Goals:

1-0: McNair (34, struck low and with power beyond Bywater after a nice dribble and pass from Fletcher)

1-1: Bent (86, headed in from close range after Steele had saved Akpan’s effort)

1-2: Boyce (90, glanced Turner’s cross inside Steele’s left hand post)

Bookings: Wilson (44, foul); McManaman (59, foul); Boyce (90, over-celebration); Honeyman (90, foul); McGeady (90, foul); Cattermole (90, dissent)

Sending-off: None

Referee: Darren England (Sprotbrough) – had given the goal and then went with his assistant Matt Foley on a huge call late on. 5

Attendance: 25,475

Entertainment: **

Sund Burt

Shots on 2 8

Shots off 9 6

Corners 2 8

Fouls 15 7

Offsides 3 3

SUNDERLAND (4-1-4-1):

7 STEELE: Showed strong handling throughout and couldn’t be blamed for the two goals;

6 Jones: Got forward plenty on his return to the side even if he did more defending than he would like

6 Kone: Had to make way with a knee problem and that led to Sunderland’s collapse

6 O’Shea: A calming influence for the most part until late on

5 Wilson: Entered the book with a poor challenge and lucky not to have received a second caution second half;

6 Cattermole: Made a number of strong interceptions and kept the ball

5 McManaman: Put the work in, displayed some nice touches without posing much of a threat on goal

7 McNair: Scored a good goal, had another disallowed and looked confident again

6 Honeyman: Full of energy again in the middle and will be important in League One

5 McGeady: Got involved plenty enough even if he could have done more at times;

6 Fletcher: Led the line well, linked up play but lacked that edge in front of goal

Subs

Matthews (for Wilson 60): Had to work hard after coming on. 5

Asoro (for McManaman 66): A few runs into the area caused problems. 5

Clarke-Salter (for Kone 82)

(not used): Camp (gk), LuaLua, Maja, Ejaria.

BURTON (4-1-4-1): Bywater 6; Brayford 6, Naylor 5, McFadzean 7, McCrory 5 (Turner 61, 7); Davenport 5; Akins 6, Murphy 6 (Sordell 82), AKPAN 7, Sbarra 6 (Bent 75); Boyce 7. Subs (not used): Campbell, Buxton, Allen, Samuelsen.

MAN OF THE MATCH: JASON Steele – turned in the sort of goalkeeper display that Sunderland could have done with more often.