SUNDERLAND were booed off the pitch after being dumped out of the FA Cup for the second year in a row by League Two strugglers Mansfield Town.

Former Hartlepool striker Rhys Oates returned to the North-East to hit the early winner for the visitors.

Nigel Clough’s side, 20th in League Two, claimed an away win for the first time this season at the Black Cats’ expense.

Oates, who left Pools in the summer, made the most of an error from Sunderland goalkeeper Lee Burge to score the opener in the fifth minute.

By the time Nathan Broadhead had forced Mansfield goalkeeper Nathan Bishop into his first meaningful save with a header a few minutes before the break, the Stags were already in front.

Burge’s early clearance should have been routine but it hit a visiting player and Oates controlled the loose ball before dispatching the finish in off the left hand post.  

Mansfield’s Ollie Hawkins also headed against the bar with half-time approaching, with Sunderland fortunate not to be two goals behind.

After the restart Sunderland, after five substitutions, continued in a similar manner and it wasn’t until late when they made more progress in the Mansfield half.

The nearest they came to levelling was when Carl Winchester headed against the top of the bar and Dan Neil’s half volley shook the woodwork in stoppage-time.