HOW we rated Sunderland's players in their 2-0 win over Bristol Rovers in the Checkatrade Trophy semi-final.

Goals:

0-1: Grigg (43, received Power’s through ball and spun away from his marker before firing into the bottom corner)

0-2: Morgan (47, prodded home the rebound after Bonham could only parry Gooch’s swerving long-range shot)

Bookings: Nichols (38, foul), Craig (86, foul)

Referee: Michael Salisbury (Lancashire) – Got the key decisions right, and wasn’t swayed by the home crowd’s increasingly desperate second-half penalty shouts 6

Attendance: 6,699

Entertainment: 4/5

BRISTOL ROVERS (4-4-2):

Bonham 6; J Clarke 5, Lockyer 4, Craig 5, Holmes-Dennis 5; Upson 4, O Clarke 6 (Kelly 70), SINCLAIR 6 (Lines 70), Sercombe 5; Clarke-Harris 5, Nichols 4 (Jakubiak 70).

Subs (not used): Smith (gk), Matthews, Reilly.

SUNDERLAND (4-2-3-1):

7 McLaughlin: Made an excellent first-half double save and remained solid throughout the second half to protect Sunderland’s clean sheet

6 O’Nien: Not quite as influential as in a number of recent games, but still rock solid in both halves of the field

8 Flanagan: Marked the dangerous Clarke-Harris out of the game and dealt with whatever Bristol Rovers threw forward

8 Dunne: Didn’t really put a foot wrong as Sunderland restricted their opponents to a handful of hopeful long-range efforts

7 Matthews: Recalled in a somewhat unusual left-back role, but looked accomplished and assured throughout

8 Leadbitter: Ran the game from the heart of midfield and continues to look like one of the signings of the season at this level

7 Power: Replaced Cattermole in central midfield and ensured his team-mate was not missed – produced a great pass for Grigg’s goal

8 MORGAN: Caused problems whenever he broke down the right and confirmed Sunderland’s win with his second-half strike

6 Honeyman: Produced some neat passes in the first half, but was forced off with a hip problem on the stroke of half-time

8 McGeady: Influential once again as he flittered from one flank to the other and broke infield – came close with a couple of good efforts

7 Grigg: Claimed his first Sunderland goal from open play with a clinical low strike at the end of the first half

Subs:

Gooch (for Honeyman, 45): Set up Morgan’s goal with a long-range shot that Bonham was unable to hold and acquitted himself well in the second half 7

Watmore (for McGeady, 77)

McGeouch (for Morgan, 84)

(not used): Ruiter (gk), Baldwin, Hume, Wyke.

Man Of The Match: LEWIS MORGAN – The Celtic loanee continues to improve with every performance, and deserved the goal that arrived at the start of the second half.