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.
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