Goals:

0-1: Gooch (7, got the ball from out of his feet before curling beautifully inside the keeper’s right hand post)

1-1: Taylor (40, arrived at the back post to turn in Sadlier’s cross after Coppinger’s lovely ball out wide)

1-2: Maguire (61, drilled low and hard inside the bottom corner after Gooch and Hume and linked well)

Bookings: Lynch (34, foul); Ozturk (70, deliberate handball); John (72, foul)

Referee: Carl Boyeson (Hull) – infuriated both benches with a few decisions but he did well by and large. 6

Attendance: 12,432

Entertainment: 3/5

DONCASTER ROVERS (4-2-3-1): Dieng 7; Halliday 5; Anderson 7, Wright 6, John 5 (Thomas 81); Whiteman 5, Gomes 6; Sadlier 7, Coppinger 7 (Watters 90), TAYLOR 7; Ennis 6. Subs (not used): Lawlor (gk), James, Sheaf, Greaves, Daniels.

SUNDERLAND (5-4-1):

7 J McLaughlin: After question marks about the leveller, he delivered a performance to help;

7 O’Nien: Full of grit and determination and unlucky not to score

6 Lynch: Allowed Taylor in to level but recovered well after that to help

6 Ozturk: Fortunate to just collect a caution for handball when Doncaster wanted red

6 Willis: The pick of the defenders without being at his very best at the back

8 Hume: Brilliant from start to finish in an attacking and defensive sense, including his assist;

8 GOOCH: An excellent early goal and a performance that was full of energy and spirit set the tone for Sunderland

7 Power: Kept digging in throughout the afternoon in the middle and led by example

7 Dobson: Added some fresh legs and energy in the middle to show what he is about

8 Maguire: An excellent goal and a performance Sunderland need to see repeated

6 Wyke: Bullied throughout by his markers but kept going and should have scored

Subs:

Watmore (for Gooch 79)

(not used) Burge (gk), C McLaughlin, McNulty, De Bock, Grigg, Leadbitter.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Lynden Gooch - had a massive role in Sunderland’s two goals and his all round display was full of desire and determination.