How did Sunderland's players rate in their 1-0 win over Bolton Wanderers at the Stadium of Light?
Digital Sports Writer Matty Jones was watching the game this afternoon...
MATCH STATS:
Goals: Winchester 16’ (slammed the ball high into the net from Cirkin’s cutback)
Bookings: O’Nien 45+’ (for shoving Afolayan to the floor), Afolayan 68’ (upended Dajaku as he was breaking away), Santos 90+ (pulling Stewart to the floor and getting involved in scuffle with Sunderland players)
Referee: Sam Purkiss – managed the game well and there wasn’t many faults to pick out. No real panic decisions from the ref.
Attendance: 32,628
Entertainment: ***
MATCH RATINGS:
Sunderland XI:
7 Hoffman – Produced some brilliant point blank saves, twice denying E Doyle from close range
7 Winchester – Solid and steady at right-back but is showing plenty of presence going forward and proven to be a great asset again with another goal.
9 Doyle – Fantastic display at the back. Denying striker E Doyle on a number of occasions with blocks, put his body on the line and distribution from the back is outstanding.
7 Flanagan – Another one who put his body on the line with blocks and shored things up at the back.
8 Cirkin – Took a while to get going and get caught once or twice but was brilliant going up and down the left and provided the assist for Winchester’s finish.
7 Neil – Another stylish and accomplished display from the young midfielder. Nerves could have got the better of any young midfielder but Neil is playing beyond his years.
6 Pritchard – Was a solid display but didn’t quite have the impact he probably would have liked to have. Should have scored in the second half.
6 Embleton – Another one who didn’t have a tremendous impact for the hour he was on the pitch but did well going forward.
6 McGeady – A quiet day by his standards but laid on some great chances. One in particular for Pritchard who should have scored.
7 Stewart – No goal to match the performance but another great showing with great hold up play and bringing others into the game.
Subs:
6 Evans 60’ – Steady performance in the middle of the park and helped tie things over
7 Dajaku 60’ – Energetic and lively on the flank but should really have scored on two occasions
5 Huggins 60’ – Not his best performance at full-back and his blushes were spared with a sliced clearance that fell the way of Eion Doyle
Wright 88’ – N/A
Subs not used: Burge, Alves, Broadhead, Wright
Bolton XI (4-1-4-1): Dixon 7; Jones 7, Santos 7, Johnston 6, Gordon 6 (John 70’); Williams 6; Sheehan 7 (Lee 85’), Sarvevic 6, Afolayan 6, Isgrove 6 (Kachunga 60’ 6), Doyle 7
Subs: Gilks, Delfounso, Thomason, Baptiste
Man of the Match: Callum Doyle - A steady performance way beyond his years and battled through the pain barrier to keep a clean sheet.
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