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Tommy Doyle scored from a free-kick to give Sheffield United the lead against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light
Manchester City loan pair James McAtee and Tommy Doyle scored the goals that set Sheffield United back on the Championship promotion trail.
The two midfielders struck after Edouard Michut’s first goal for Sunderland had put the home side ahead, against the run of play.
The three points allowed the Blades to take advantage of the fact that Middlesbrough dropped points in a draw with Stoke City 24 hours earlier and open up a six-point lead in the race for the second automatic promotion spot.
The Black Cats began the night hoping to build on their fine win at Norwich City at the weekend and boost themselves back into the play-off reckoning, but they ended up slumping to a fourth defeat in their past five league games.
Victory for the visitors put a halt to their slide in fortunes after they had lost four of their previous six to give Boro hope of catching them.
The Blades were on the front foot from the first whistle, pinning Sunderland back, with keeper Anthony Patterson producing a fine save to deny Daniel Jebbison, making only his fourth start of the season as manager Paul Heckingbottom made four changes from the side that lost to Luton Town on Saturday.
Sheffield’s dominance counted for nothing, however, as Paris St Germain loanee Michut found himself in space, superbly created by Joe Gelhardt’s distracting run, to collect Abdoullah Ba’s pass and fire into the far corner on the half-hour mark.
The visitors were level in added time in the first half as wing-back George Baldock carried the ball down the right and slipped a pass inside to McAtee, one of the players drafted in by Heckingbottom. He took the pass with a silken touch, feinted, and then stroked the ball into the far corner for a top-class finish.
McAtee turned provider for Iliman Ndiaye early in the second half, only for Patterson to make a great block with his leg, but the Blades were not to be denied.
Doyle whipped in a free-kick from wide on the left and with Sander Berge’s attempt to get a touch distracting Patterson, the ball bounced into the far corner. The Sunderland defence protested, as Berge had clearly been in an offside position, but the goal stood.
Sunderland finally rallied, with Wes Foderingham forced into a terrific one-handed save from Jack Clarke, and Patrick Roberts cutting in from the right flank to bounce a shot off the far post.
The response fizzled out as Heckingbottom’s side managed the game to a conclusion as Sunderland’s dismal home form – just six wins in 18 – continued.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsSunderland
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Patterson32Hume5Ballard6Batth13O’Nien25Michut24Neil10Roberts17Ba20Clarke28Gelhardt
-
- 1Patterson32Hume
Booked at 27mins
-
- 5Ballard
Booked at 90mins
-
- 6Batth13O’NienSubstituted forEkwahat 87’minutes25Michut
Booked at 71mins
- Substituted forGoochat 72’minutes24Neil10Roberts17BaSubstituted forLihadjiat 72’minutes20Clarke28GelhardtSubstituted forPritchardat 72’minutes
Substitutes
- 11Gooch12Bass19Bennette21Pritchard22Lihadji39Ekwah45Anderson
Sheff Utd
Formation 3-5-2
18Foderingham15Ahmedhodzic12Egan19Robinson2Baldock8Berge22Doyle28McAtee13Lowe29Ndiaye36Jebbison
-
- 18Foderingham15Ahmedhodzic
Booked at 55mins
-
- 12Egan19Robinson
Booked at 20mins
-
- 2BaldockSubstituted forBogleat 78’minutes8Berge22Doyle
Booked at 35mins
-
- Substituted forNorwoodat 78’minutes28McAteeSubstituted forFleckat 80’minutes13Lowe
Booked at 24mins
- 29NdiayeSubstituted forSharpat 90+2’minutes36JebbisonSubstituted forMcBurnieat 70’minutes
Substitutes
- 1Davies4Fleck6Basham9McBurnie10Sharp16Norwood20Bogle
Referee:Matt DonohueAttendance:37,490Match StatsHome TeamSunderlandAway TeamSheff UtdPossessionHome55%Away45%ShotsHome7Away11Shots on TargetHome3Away4CornersHome4Away8FoulsHome16Away16Live Text Post update
Match ends, Sunderland 1, Sheffield United 2.
90’+8’Full Time
Second Half ends, Sunderland 1, Sheffield United 2.
90’+6’Post update
Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Jack Clarke.
90’+5’Post update
Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Jack Clarke.
90’+5’Booking
Dan Ballard (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card.
90’+4’Post update
Foul by Lynden Gooch (Sunderland).
90’+4’Post update
Jayden Bogle (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
90’+4’Post update
Offside, Sunderland. Daniel Neil tries a through ball, but Dan Ballard is caught offside.
90’+3’Post update
Danny Batth (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90’+3’Post update
Foul by Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United).
90’+2’Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. Billy Sharp replaces Iliman Ndiaye.
90’+1’Post update
Foul by Lynden Gooch (Sunderland).
90’+1’Post update
Iliman Ndiaye (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90’+1’Post update
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Jayden Bogle.
89’Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
89’Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Danny Batth (Sunderland).
87’Substitution
Substitution, Sunderland. Pierre Ekwah replaces Luke O’Nien because of an injury.
84’Post update
Luke O’Nien (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
84’Post update
Foul by Sander Berge (Sheffield United).
80’Post update
Foul by Dan Ballard (Sunderland).
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Source: bbc.com