HOW did Sunderland's players rate in their 2-1 win over Accrington Stanley?
Matty Jones was watching the game at the Stadium of Light...
Goals: Neil 15’, Nottingham 30’, Winchester 58’
Bookings: Gooch and Pell 25’ (altercation on the pitch), Nottingham 45+1’ (time wasting), Flanagan 50’ (late challenge on the Accrington keeper), Morgan 71’ (late sliding challenge on O’Nien), Embleton 78’ (tripping an Accrington player), Pritchard 86’ (foul on Accrington defender).
Referee: Anthony Backhouse – seven bookings in total and some of them were fairly needless. Didn’t handle the game too well.
Attendance: 29,830
Entertainment: ***
Ratings:
5 Hoffman – An unconvincing debut from the German goalkeeper. Looked panicked coming out for corners and was let off the hook once or twice.
8 Winchester – Looks so comfortable slotting in at right-back and loves to bomb forward. Very tidy finish for the goal.
6 Flanagan – Was strong at the back he's now picked up five bookings this season which means he misses the next game.
5 Doyle – Probably his poorest game in a Sunderland shirt so far. Was let off the hook for conceding the ball in his own half when a chance was cleared off the line.
7 Cirkin – Looked very comfortable on the left hand side and made a crucial block on the line in the second half.
8 Neil – Looked very silky on the ball and took his goal really well. Impressive how he worked the space to help him get the shot away.
6 O’Nien – Was energetic as ever and does that role so well. Was on the receiving end of one or two heavy challenges but always bounces back up.
7 Gooch – Showed plenty of pace urgency on the wing. Always looks to make something happen in the final third.
7 Embleton – He’s always looking to make something happen in the final third. A goal would have topped off another great display.
7 McGeady – He was the provider for Winchester’s goal and adds to his assist tally yet again. Unlucky not to score from the edge of the box.
8 Stewart – The memories of Charlie Wyke are long gone. Stewart is revelling as the front man. Brilliant hold up play, great energy and link up play.
Subs: 6 Pritchard 68’ – Showed plenty of purpose on the ball but perhaps didn’t have much of an influence when he came on. Might be down to lack of match fitness.
Wright 84’ – N/A
Subs not used: Burge, Huggins, Evans, Alves, Broadhead
Accrington (3-5-2): Trafford 7, Sykes 5, Nottingham 7, Sherring 6; Clark 6, Butcher 7, Morgan 5, Pell 5, McConville 7; Bishop 6, Charles 6.
Subs not used: Leigh, Nolan, Amankwah, Savin
Subs: Hamilton 6, Mumbongo, Malcolm
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