CARDIFF (5-2-2-1):
Etheridge 7; Manga 7, Morrison 6, Bamba 7, Richards 7, Bennett 7; Paterson 8, RALLS 8; Mendez-Laing 6 (Wildschut 58, 7), Hoilett 7 (Feeney 81); Zohore 7 (Pilkington 81)
Subs (not used): Murphy (gk), Tomlin, Halford, Damour
SUNDERLAND (5-2-2-1):
6 Ruiter: Made some good stops in the first half, but not a commanding presence in the goalmouth
5 Jones: Good work before the break was all undone when he allowed Paterson to climb above him for the opening goal
5 Browning: Early confidence ebbed away and was caught out of position as part of an increasingly ragged defence
5 O’Shea: Some timely interventions early on, but unable to lift those around him when things began to crumble
4 Clarke-Salter: An unforgiving debut for the youngster, who found Zohore’s power too much to handle for the second goal
5 Oviedo: Another whose early composure gave way as Cardiff’s forwards buzzed around him in a desperate second half
5 Wilson: Some neat touches early on, but bypassed after that and was unsurprisingly substituted at half-time
4 Ndong: Did little to impress any would-be purchasers before his mistimed tackle gave enough reason for his sending off.
6 HONEYMAN: Caught the eye in the opening spell when Sunderland were busy, but faded in the second-half onslaught.
6 Gooch: Another who looked neat and composed on the ball and was involved in most of his team’s best moments early on.
5 Maja: No lack of effort, but cut an isolated figure and never caused any genuine problems for Cardiff’s defence.
Subs:
5 Cattermole (for Wilson, 45): Plenty of grit, but unable to impose himself
6 Asoro (for Gooch, 60): Added some much-needed energy
McManaman (for Maja, 78)
(not used): Steele (gk), Matthews, Love, Robson.
Man Of The Match: JOE RALLS - Creative going forward and destructive when on the back foot, he was the dominant central figure Sunderland never got to grips with.
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