SUNDERLAND’S winless run in a 90 minute match was extended to six games in all competitions as the recent rut continues after a 1-1 draw against Bradford City. The Black Cats ended up losing the tie 4-2 on penalties in their final group match.

It was a quiet start with almost an exhibition feel to the game as Sunderland monopolised the majority of possession. The Black Cats first real effort on goal came when Elliot Embleton found space from 25 yards out. His effort took a deflection and spun up into the air where it appeared as though shot had wrong footed the keeper. Luckily for Sam Hornsby, he clutched it out of the air with ease.

In truth, neither side could really get to grips with the game and the first half an hour. It was a contest that could easily fall into the nip and tuck category.

But through tidy footwork, it was the League Two side that crafted out an opening and took the lead.

From the left, City winger Reece Staunton sold Harrison Sohna with a lovely roll of the foot and made way into the box. He dug out a low cross with plenty of pace. The grateful recipient was striker Theo Robinson who got just enough of a connection on it to watch the ball fly into the top right corner.

Once again, Sunderland’s defensive lapses were laid bare for all to see.

While the defence failed to do its job again, the attack was toothless and restricted to hopeful balls into the box that couldn’t find a man in red and white.

All that was required was that defence splitting pass to carve out the opening. Luke O’Nien found that knock into the feet of Leon Dajaku in the box. After selling his marker, his right footed effort was well parried away by Hornsby.

Moments later, Lynden Gooch whipped a ball into the box that just evaded Kenton Richardson’s toe end as the Bantams maintained their slender lead going into the break as fans booed them off.

Just as the Sunderland crowd were beginning to get even more restless, Lee Johnson’s side found the chink in the armour.

From a deep position, Embleton dinked the perfect ball through to Nathan Broadhead who brought the ball down into space and fire low into the bottom left corner. A smart finish from the Black Cats number nine to draw them level.

Embleton almost turned from provider to scorer when Alex Pritchard’s low cross found the onrushing midfielder who met the ball well but saw his effort deflected agonisingly wide of the post.

Bradford City then demonstrated some mighty defending to somehow keeping out two goalbound efforts.

After a defensive mishap from Oscar Threlkeld, Dajaku was clean through on goal. His bending right footed effort was well saved by Hornsby but the ball bounced up perfectly for Ellis Harris from six yards. His header was somehow hooked away by Staunton to leave the Sunderland duo with their heads in their hands.

Substitute Levi Sutton made his intentions clear when he came on for Bradford City when he fired a shot from the edge of the box that whistled just by the post while Alex Gilliead should have made them pay when he found room in the box and fired wide.  

Pritchard was inches from winning the game in fine style after winning a free-kick on the edge of the box.

From 25 yards, he took the responsibility. But he smacked the outside of the post with a beautiful curling effort.

Penalties beckoned for both teams. For the home side, Pritchard and Gooch had their spotkicks saved before Gareth Evans handed the Bantams a consolation two points with the winning penalty.

Sunderland XI: Hoffman; Richardson, Younger, Alves, Gooch; O’Nien, Sohna (Winchester 73’); Embleton (Taylor 73’), Pritchard, Dajaku; Broadhead (Harris 57’)

Subs not used: Burge, O’Brien, Wright, Dyce

Bradford XI: Hornsby, Threlkeld, Cooke, Foulds, Vernam (Sutton 61’), Kelleher, Evans, Angol, Robinson (Gilliead 61’), Staunton, Scales

Subs not used: O’Donnel, Canavan, Songo’o, Watt