Goals:
0-1: Rodman (10, 10, struck inside McLaughlin’s near post after Matthews’ block on Craig’s initial effort fell kindly to him)
1-1: Matthews (45, nodded in at the back post after McGeady’s first effort was saved and dropped his way)
2-1: Maja (49, twisted and turned in the area before beating Bonham with a low finish)
Bookings: Upson (36, foul); O Clarke (90, foul)
Referee: Thomas Bramall (Sheffield) – on a bitterly cold afternoon he did well to keep the game flowing as much as he could. 7
Attendance: 28,971
Entertainment: **
Sund Rovers
Shots on 4 3
Shots off 12 6
Corners 2 4
Fouls 10 9
Offsides 2 2
SUNDERLAND (4-3-3-):
6 McLaughlin: Wasn’t too busy but was beaten at his near post and forced off with a back problem;
7 Matthews: Had defended well and then was the man to get Sunderland back into it with a header
5 Loovens: Looked a bit shaky on his return to the starting line-up in the league but did improve as the minutes went by
6 Baldwin: Alert to cover when he needed to be without ever feeling like he was at his best
7 OVIEDO: Might have had a few defensive lapses but was a threat regularly going forward, creating plenty;
6 Cattermole: Hit the bar in the first half and looked hungry to get involved after his return from injury
6 Power: Decent without being delightful, and hit the bar with a fine strike from distance which led to Maguire hitting the post;
6 Gooch: Not as effective as he can be but still involved in the build up to the equaliser
6 Honeyman: Lively in behind the striker and dropped deep too to get on the ball
6 McGeady: A few flashes of what he can offer but was never brilliant in the challenging conditions;
6 Maja: Hadn’t enjoyed the best of afternoons but was still on hand to claim his 13th goal of the season with a striker’s finish
Subs
Maguire (for Maja 75)
Ruiter (for McLaughlin 75)
Watmore (for Gooch 84)
(not used): Ozturk, McGeouch, O’Nien, Sinclair.
BRISTOL ROVERS (4-2-3-1): Bonham 6; J Clarke 6, Lockyer 5, Craig 6, Kelly 6; Upson 6, O Clarke 7; Holmes-Dennis 5 (Nichols 66, 5), Sercombe 6 (Bennett 63, 5), Rodman 6 (Payne 76); Jakubiak 5. Subs (not used): Smith, Broadbent, Leadbitter, Russe.
MAN OF THE MATCH: BRYAN Oviedo – caused Rovers problems throughout.
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