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.