Sunderland will face Lincoln City in the semi-finals of the League One play-offs. The two sides have met on five occasions in the last two seasons - Matty Jones looks back on the games
LINCOLN 2-0 SUNDERLAND – Sat 5th October 2019
A damaging defeat at Sincil Bank in what proved to be Jack Ross’ final game in charge of Sunderland after 17 months.
Lincoln’s Tyler Walker scored a brace and missed a penalty in a bad day at the office for the Black Cats.
They were booed off the pitch by travelling supporters at the final whistle.
The result left them in 6th place just inside the League One play offs after 11 games in the season and forced then owner Stewert Donald to wield the axe ‘with a heavy heart’.
SUNDERLAND 3-1 LINCOLN CITY – Sat 4th Janaury 2020
A first home win since the start of November lifted fans spirits at the Stadium of Light under the stewardship of Phil Parkinson.
Tom Flanagan and Lynden Gooch were on the scoresheet that day while Michael Bostwick put the ball in his own net to give the Black Cats a third.
The win moved them up to 9th in the table in a season that would eventually be curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
LINCOLN CITY 0-4 SUNDERLAND – Sat 12th December 2020
An emphatic performance from Sunderland in Lee Johnson’s first win as the Black Cats boss.
Three first half goals from Grand Leadbitter, Charlie Wyke and Jack Diamond did the damage before Wyke added a fourth in the second half.
Arguably their finest performance of the season against a fellow promotion rival.
They climbed to 8th in the League One table and were hot on the tails of the teams in the top six.
SUNDERLAND 1-1 LINCOLN CITY (WON 5-3 ON PENS) – 17th February 2020
A historic day for Sunderland clinching a date with Wembley after a nervy midweek game.
Charlie Wyke’s late goal cancelled out Anthony Scully’s tap-in to take the game to penalties.
The Black Cats dispatched all five of their spot-kick’s and the tie was won when Remy Howarth crashed his effort off the crossbar.
Sunderland would go on to beat League Two Tranmere Rovers in the final by a goal to nil.
SUNDERLAND 1-1 LINCOLN CITY - 20th March 2021
The Black Cats were pegged back in their pursuit of an automatic promotion spot by a late Callum Morton goal for the Imps.
Callum McFadezen was the unlikely scorer for Sunderland just before the haff time whistle in a tight game at the Stadium of Light.
The result left them two points behind 2nd placed Peterborough who would go on to seal automatic promotion alongside Hull City.
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