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Sunderland 1-0 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Saturday, 8th Feb 2020 17:09

Chris Maguire’s 81st minute goal saw Sunderland to a 1-0 victory over Town at the Stadium of Light, sending the Blues down to seventh in League One. The Blues were much the better team in the first half but the Black Cats, who are up to sixth, were on top in the second and had hit the woodwork twice prior to their winner.

Tomas Holy was among five players to return to the Town team, the Czech keeper coming in for Will Norris, who dropped to the bench, the on-loan Wolves man having started the last 10 League One matches.

The back three remained unchanged - skipper Luke Chambers, James Wilson and Luke Woolfenden - but there were forced switches of personnel in both wing-back roles.

Gwion Edwards was suspended so Janoi Donacien started on the right, while Luke Garbutt was out with a thigh strain and Myles Kenlock was on the left.

In midfield, Flynn Downes was again partnered by Cole Skuse with Jon Nolan, whose wife gave birth earlier in the week, in the more advanced role. Alan Judge dropped to the bench.

Up front, Will Keane was joined by James Norwood with Kayden Jackson among the subs. Emyr Huws was fit again after his ankle injury and on the bench.

Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson made one change from the team which lost 2-0 at Portsmouth last week with central defender Joel Lynch injured and Tom Flanagan taking his place.

Town carved out the first danger of the game in the seventh minute. After good work from Skuse and Nolan, Keane played a clever ball into the path of Kenlock breaking into the area on the left, however, the wing-back’s first touch let him down and his cross was blocked by Luke O'Nien.

A minute later, the home side had the ball in the net. Chris Maguire crossed from the right and Charlie Wyke stabbed home ahead of Holy but fortunately for the Blues having strayed offside.

Town were next to threaten. Following a patient spell of Town possession, Woolfenden crossed from the left and Keane looped a header over.

On 14 Kenlock played a superb ball down the left for Norwood to chase. The striker reached the ball as he broke into the area but Black Cats keeper Jon Mclaughlin was quickly off his line to block the former Tranmere man’s effort at goal.

Moments later, Nolan hit a low strike from the left which McLaughlin saved low at his post. Town were controlling the game with Sunderland struggling to see much of the ball.

In the 21st minute O'Nien was shown the game’s first yellow card for a needless tackle from behind on Wilson as the ball was going out of play, the former Wycombe man’s studs catching the defender well up his calf.

After play restarted, Keane found space to shoot in the area but his effort was blocked, then Kenlock looped a header over.

In the 23rd minute Downes was booked for protesting after a foul had been given against Skuse in the centre circle. The card was Downes’s eighth in League One this season, meaning he is two off a suspension.

A minute later, Keane knocked the ball back to Norwood on the edge of the box and Town’s top scorer struck a shot which flew not far past McLaughlin’s left post. Soon afterwards, Norwood had another go, a defender this time deflecting his strike through to the keeper.


Penalty area action became rarer with Town perhaps not quite so dominant but in the 33rd minute Chambers crossed from the right and Norwood flicked a header wide.

The home fans and players had become increasingly frustrated the longer the half progressed with virtually every decision made against them by referee Jeremy Simpson receiving a vitriolic response. On 40, George Dobson struck a rare Sunderland shot well wide.

The Black Cats saw more of the ball in the final minutes of the half but without seriously threatening. On 44 Holy came out a long way to clear a ball played down the Town right.

In one minute of time added on Downes made a strong run down the left before finding Nolan unmarked to his right but the Liverpudlian scraped his shot from just outside the box wide.

Boos from the home fans greeted the half-time whistle after a period in which the Blues had been very much on top.

Town had passed the ball around confidently and had created enough opportunities to have gone in ahead.

At the other end, Holy had had a quiet return to the Town XI with Sunderland not having managed a shot on target aside from the early disallowed goal.

There was a scare for the Blues soon after the restart, O'Nien’s cross from the right deflected off Woolfenden - his hand according to the home support - and reached Denver Hume at the far post, Donacien blocking his shot.

The Black Cats were making a bright start to the second period and went very close to going in front in the 49th minute.

Lynden Gooch made a mazy playground-style run into the Town box beating several Blues defenders before hitting a low shot which struck the post. The rebound fell to Wyke but the striker somehow sent it into the arms of the already grounded Holy with the goal gaping.

It was a lucky escape for Town who moments later had Norwood booked for stopping Sunderland from taking a freekick, however, the striker very much looked like the player who had initially been fouled.

The Blues were under the cosh for the first time in the game and in the 54th minute skipper Chambers was booked for a challenge on Wyke as he broke through the middle. The Town captain appeared to have won the ball, but the home support called for a red card, however, Wilson had got round to cover. Maguire’s freekick and a couple of subsequent efforts were blocked.

Holy made his first significant save of the game on 55, using the full extent of his height to tip Sunderland skipper Max Power’s looping effort over the bar at his far post as he frantically back-pedalled.

Town had found themselves pinned back inside their half but as the game reached the hour mark they began to find their feet and pass the ball around.

And in the 65th minute Town were handed a big opportunity to take the lead. Norwood and Keane exchanged passes as they broke into the area and Flanagan stabbed back to McLaughlin, who inexplicably picked the back-pass up.

Referee Simpson awarded an indirect freekick to the Blues 10 yards out to the right. After a lengthy consultation, Skuse rolled back to Norwood who rather mishit his effort and the ball looked on its way wide before a combination of Donacien and a defender saw it out of play.

Following the incident Town again found themselves under the cosh and unable to get out of their own half with blocks flying in from all angles.

On 70 Sunderland again hit the woodwork, Bailey Wright smashing a powerful effort from 10 yards out which cannoned off Holy’s bar with a subsequent effort blocked as Town desperately hung on. A minute later, Town swapped Norwood and Nolan for Kayden Jackson and Huws.

The Welshman was immediately into the action, taking a McLaughlin fist to the cheek as he and the keeper challenged for a high ball in the area. The Town players appealed for a penalty but referee Simpson - a man fond of awarding penalties as Blues supporters will remember from the game at Reading in September 2016 when he gave three - wasn’t interested.

Hume shot over for Sunderland in the 77th minute with the home side still on top but not quite as rampant as earlier in the half.

A minute later, January signing Josh Earl was handed his Blues debut from the bench and in a mask protecting his cheekbone injury for Donacien, who limped off. The on-loan Preston man went to the left of the back three with Woolfenden going to right wing-back.

Soon after, Sunderland switched wing-back Hume for striker Kyle Lafferty as they chased the three points.

And in the 81st minute, they scored the goal which claimed them. The ball was knocked forward to Lafferty on the edge of the area on the left from where the Northern Irish international played it to Maguire, who hit a powerful strike from just outside the area past Holy to his right.

Three minutes after the goal, Wilson tripped over the ball midway inside the Town half but Skuse got back to end the danger.

Town were looking to push for a leveller as the game moved into its final scheduled minutes and on 89 had a big chance. Jackson broke into the area on the right with the ball with only McLaughlin to beat but dallied before shooting and Flanagan stabbed back to the keeper.

Midway through four minutes of injury time, a long throw from the right was half-cleared to Downes but his volley flew well into the stand behind the goal.

That was the last chance of the game and referee Simpson’s whistle confirmed Town’s third defeat in a row.

The Blues were the best side in the first half and will rue not having made their dominance count, but it was a different game in the second with Sunderland very much on top and hitting the woodwork on two occasions before Maguire’s goal.

Town, who are still to beat anyone currently in the top eight, only fleetingly showed glimpses of their first-half display in the second period with their best chance the indirect freekick which Norwood somewhat wasted.

On the balance of the two halves, Sunderland created the more clear-cut chances during the second than Town did in the first and overall probably deserved the three points.

The Blues were certainly better than they were at Rotherham and at home to Peterborough but ultimately with the same result.

Town are out of the top six for the first time since August and have now won just four of their last 19 in League One.

Town, who travel to face AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday, last lost three in a row in the third tier in their opening three games at the start of 1956/57, their most campaign at this level prior to this season.

Sunderland: J McLaughlin, Willis, Wright, Flanagan, O'Nien, Power (c), Dobson, Hume (Lafferty, 79), Gooch (C McLaughlin 90), Wyke, Maguire. Unused: Burge, Watmore, Scowen, Ozturk, Semenyo.

Town: Holy, Chambers (c), Wilson, Woolfenden, Donacien (Earl 78), Skuse, Downes, Kenlock, Nolan (Huws 71), Norwood (Jackson 71), Keane. Unused: Norris, Judge, Sears, Dozzell. Referee: Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire). Att: 32,756 (Town: 1,956).


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runningout added 13:06 - Feb 9
Even big club like Sunderland were able to up their game v us. I admire those that are content with the way things are right now. I'm not one of them. I'm actually too cheesed off to mention
6

grinch added 13:21 - Feb 9
amazing we have 5 pages of posts. when we were top you would be lucky to get 1 page how fickle can fans be. we have no Devine right to be promoted or in the championship we WERE a great team but that was over 20 years ago and Evans was not here then Football was different but Sheepshanks drive us into receivership and we have never recovered we are a team that is in the correct place for the size of the town etc never forget the past but if you think it will return then I think that you are delusional those days are gone try and enjoy what we have today with a tempered outlook on what the team can achieve sad times which need supporters to be real and not to keep blaming the same old people. McCarthy must be the only one smiling at moment as those same people drove him out of the club with that ghastly saying of be careful what you wish for and here we are even the football is beginning to look like his style of play.
-7

ITFCsince73 added 13:27 - Feb 9
#Londontractor. Just like his idol Mick Ma, has to resort to name calling.
And to a sensible, humorous poster #Cat.
2

ITFCsince73 added 13:35 - Feb 9
Agreed grinch. But we thought this year would be different.
We are so success starved after all.
Don't take much to get ITFC fans excited. Especially since Mick Ma.
Mick Ma won't be smiling, it's still so much a better club since his departure.
6

warktheline added 13:56 - Feb 9
Runningout stated ‘I admire those that are content with the way things are right now'.....WTF! 🙈🤦‍♂️ This club doesn't stand a chance! Get serious , join ‘Evans Out' on FB, with the right numbers WE the fans can CHANGE what's been going on for far too long!
5

warktheline added 13:58 - Feb 9
@SWN , you are without doubt the original MELT! @cat, hats off for continually posting constructive points of view!
4

oldegold added 14:49 - Feb 9
The simple truth is we are not good enough. After watching the Peterborough debacle I know now we won't make the top two and will be lucky to make the play offs. Last Saturday against the Posh no shots on target...created nothing really and what has happened to Norwood...he couldn't score in a brothel
2

cat added 14:55 - Feb 9
Cheers L.T.B.57 coming from you I'll take that as a compliment 👍
2

Pecker added 17:12 - Feb 9
Think we will still make top2. The performance was a big improvement on the last couple. Wimbledon will be dispatched without much trouble.
-1

Kickingblock added 17:45 - Feb 9
Don't bet your pecker on it Pecker!
They'll get a goal and it'll be squeaky bum all the way to the final whistle.
1

therein61 added 17:47 - Feb 9
Been going through the comments and as i had not been to the game have not commented apart from a click here or there, i'm alarmed at the "Dieselmorris" post in capitals who appears to be while claiming he is round about the same age as myself but doesn't get angry!!!! if that is a pop at me dear boy(your opinion which i respect as a site member is yours alone) then put your games attended since 1958 home and away(i will furnish mine!!) to see if you are a true fan or just stirring people up, if you are calling me out for being angry then do one!! with the rubbish being dished up at present by the club i love i'm entitled to be.
1

Michael101 added 18:26 - Feb 9
Evan should come out and tell the (so called)players that they are playing for next season's contract.no promotion show them the door.
1

londontractorboy57 added 15:43 - Feb 10
cat The footballs better is it ?
0

londontractorboy57 added 15:51 - Feb 10
warktheline @swn????? By the way the football is no better and the position of the club is much worse still you got what you wished for.
0

tempzzzz added 14:19 - Feb 11
I see a lot of people commenting about feeling sorry for the travelling fans. I was one of those fans. I was gutted about the loss cos we were almost great in the first half and very poor in the second as usual. However, a night out in Newcastle that night and the night before took it off my mind. I imagine a lot of people did the same as I met several town fans in the club's and bars etc that weekend. So yes we were annoyed but we made the most of the trip!

P.s. Lambert got booed at the end. Holy should 100% be number one every game. Kenlock is a 20p head who shouldn't even be in the reserves. And Norwood couldn't hit a bloody barn door. He missed a 6 yard indirect freekick! Wasn't even on target! We needed a proven striker in January. We got a LB on loan, who would have been a better option to start than useless Kenlock! And when Earl did come on he came on as a CB instead and Calamity Kenlock continued on! Baffling!
0


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