Goals:

0-1: Waterfall (30, rose above his markers to glance Docherty’s free-kick inside McLaughlin’s right hand post)

1-1: Maja (44, nodded down Oviedo’s excellent cross from the left inside the bottom left corner of Arnold’s net)

Bookings: Norburn (29, dissent); Grant (37, foul); Cattermole (58, foul); Haynes (87, foul)

Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands) – dealt with some criticism from the supporters, who were more frustrated with the team’s performance than anything else. 7

Attendance: 33,288

Entertainment: **

Sund Shrews

Shots on 1 5

Shots off 14 4

Corners 8 2

Fouls 12 13

Offsides 3 2

SUNDERLAND (4-3-3):

6 McLaughlin: Got nowhere near the goal and the only time he was tested after that was when he saved Baldwin’s clearance that almost went in;

6 O’Nien: Looked to go on the overlap plenty of times in a right-back role that looks like it suits him

5 Flanagan: Had a couple of shaky moments in the first half and missed a decent chance to score

6 Baldwin: The better of the two Sunderland centre-backs until he almost scored an own goal late on

7 Oviedo: Unfortunate to pick up a back problem after a fine performance which included an excellent assist;

6 Cattermole: Cautioned in the second half but otherwise did what was expected of him in the middle

5 Power: Not as influential as he can be in either direction after a good run in the team;

5 Gooch: Looked to beat his man plenty but more often than not ended up in knots

5 Maguire: Didn’t really threaten enough before his withdrawal even if there were a few nice moments

7 McGEADY: Always the most likely outlet for an attack and often played in some nice crosses, like one late on

6 Maja: Took his goal well again and also showed some good link up play, holding up the ball well to show why Sunderland need him to stay beyond January

Subs

James (for Oviedo 51): Couldn’t pose the threat which Oviedo had. 5

Wyke (for Maguire 54): Never looked like hitting a winner. 5

Watmore (for Gooch 67): Unable to have the impact he would have liked. 5

(not used): Ruiter (gk), Ozturk, McGeouch, Sinclair.

SHREWSBURY TOWN (4-3-2-1): Arnold 6; Bolton 7, Sadler 7, Waterfall 7, Haynes 6 (Beckles 87); Norburn 6, Grant 6, Docherty 7; Gillead 5 (Okenarbirhie 67, 5), John-Lewis 5; Laurent 5 (Angel 77). Subs (not used): Coleman (gk), Emmanuel, Eisa, Sears.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Aiden McGeady – was the man on the pitch who tried to light the play up without being at his best.