Oscar Chamberlain reviews all the action from Portman Road where Sunderland continued their Sky Bet Championship campaign with a 5-2 defeat to Ipswich Town.
It was another frustrating outing for the Black Cats as familiar themes continued, with Town taking an early lead before exposing defensive uncertainty to seal a comfortable win.
SUPER BILLY STRIKES BACK
Simon Grayson made five changes for the game with Jason Steele, Darron Gibson and Billy Jones named in the starting XI, as Callum McManaman and Aiden McGeady also lined up against the home side. Mick McCarthy also tinkered with his side as former Black Cat Martyn Waghorn started in a front three that also included Joe Garner and McGoldrick – and with seven minutes played two of them combined with devastating effect. As Ipswich piled forward, Garner peeled onto the right wing and sent a lovely ball towards the six-yard box where Waghorn sent a glancing header beyond Steele. But Sunderland’s response was emphatic and just three minutes later they were level, as Jones struck at the near post to send a bullet header into the net.
BLACK CATS CORNERED
The game continued at a frenetic pace with both sides piling forward at every opportunity, but the home side carved out the next clear-cut chance as Lee Cattermole cleared Garner’s header off the line. And soon after the home side spurned another chance, as Waghorn was unable to apply the finish with the goal at his mercy. A worrying theme was starting to develop when it came to the Black Cats defending crosses into the box, and with 27 minutes played they were exposed again as Spence beat James Vaughan to the punch to head home. And within seconds of the restart the home side were a fraction away from a third, with Steele racing off his line before being clattered by Waghorn on the edge of the box.
END TO END
Tom Adeyemi was next to threaten and the midfielder really should have done better, but after losing his man he planted a header straight Steele. Ipswich didn’t cover themselves in any glory at the back either, with a nervy display giving hope to the Black Cats who just needed the ball to fall their way. And fall their way it did before the break, as Cattermole’s surging run created the space for McManaman who forced a terrific stop from Bartosz Bialkowski. Matthews, though, provided the greatest source of hope for the Lads heading into the interval, with the Welshman’s goalline clearance ensuring there wasn’t a mountain to climb in the second period.
WHEN IT RAINS
Sunderland raced out of the blocks following the restart and somehow, someway, they were denied an equaliser inside the opening three minutes. A dazzling cross from McGeady put the Tractor Boys on red alert and half-clearance saw it loop into Cattermole’s path, but a stunning point-blank save from Bialkowski denied the captain. And when it rains, it pours. Wilson was forced off one minute later before Ipswich took a 3-1 lead. After patient build-up, Garner brushed Oviedo off the ball far too easily before crossing towards the near post where Waghorn’s deft flick was hammered home by Celina. And as the hour mark chimed the home side were celebrating again, as a simple breakaway goal saw McGoldrick bundle home his second from Waghorn’s pinpoint cross.
GLIMMER OF HOPE
The Black Cats desperately needed a lift and a moment of magic from McGeady ensured the Lads entered the final stages with a glimmer of hope, with a 20-yard beauty reduced the deficit. To their credit, Grayson’s men continued to battle in the final third as Vaughan saw an effort blocked before McGeady’s free-kick deflected inches wide, as penalty appeals were also turned down. But it was Town’s night and with one minute remaining they added a fifth, Ward waltzing past Steele and finishing from a tight angle, as any hopes of an unlikely comeback were extinguished.
Ipswich Town: Bialkowski, Iorfa, Knudsen, Chambers, Skuse, Waghorn (Ward 75), McGoldrick (Sears 90), Celina (Nydam 75), Spence, Garner, Adeyemi.
Subs: Crowe, Connolly, Bru, Kenlock.
Sunderland: Steele, Jones, Wilson (O’Shea 51), Kone, Matthews, Oviedo (Gooch 56), Cattermole, Gibson, McManaman (Honeyman 66), McGeady, Vaughan.
Subs: Ruiter, Ndong, Browning, Asoro.