How did the players fare in Sunderland's play-off second leg against Lincoln City?


SUNDERLAND (4-1-3-2):

8 Burge: Kept his side’s hopes alive when he produced a sensational save from Grant’s second-half penalty

7 Gooch: Found himself at right-back after his latest positional reshuffle and helped keep Sunderland moving forward in the first half

7 Wright: Fared reasonably well against Hopper for most of the game, but will be cursing his missed header in the first leg

6 O’Nien: Was restored to centre-half after playing at full-back on Wednesday and was solid enough for most of the game

6 McFadzean: Much improved from the first leg, although he was forced off with an injury just after the hour mark

6 Leadbitter: Kept the ball moving in front of the back four, although he was much less of a factor in the second half

7 Maguire: Set the tone for Sunderland’s excellent first-half display with his energetic pressing tireless running

5 Scowen: Showed plenty of energy in the first half, but was indebted to Burge after conceding a second-half penalty

7 McGeady: Provided the crosses of both of Sunderland’s goals, but failed to convert his side’s best late chance when he shot against the post

8 STEWART: Made a massive difference as part of a two-man attack – opened the scoring with a neat near-post finish

8 Wyke: Made it 31 goals for the season in all competitions and was a handful for the Lincoln defence all afternoon


Subs:

5 Diamond (for Maguire, 64): Wasn’t able to change the course of the game after being introduced down Sunderland’s right-hand side

4 Power (for McFadzean, 64): What on earth was he thinking when he fired over from 40 yards out in stoppage time?

O’Brien (for Stewart, 77)

Winchester (for Scowen, 77)

Flanagan (for Gooch, 90)

(not used): Matthews (gk), Jones.


LINCOLN (4-3-3):

Palmer 6; Poole 6, Eyoma 5, Montsma 4 (Walsh 46, 6), Edun 5; Scully 4 (McGrandles 46, 6), Bridcutt 5, Grant 5; JOHNSON 7, Hopper 6, Rogers 6.

Subs (not used): Long (gk), Sanders, Bramall, Morton, Anderson.


Man Of The Match: ROSS STEWART – Switching to two strikers definitely helped Sunderland – perhaps the Scot should have had more involvement in the last few months.