Sunderland 0-2 Leeds United
Oscar Chamberlain reviews all the action from this evening’s clash at the Stadium of Light, as Sunderland’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end against Leeds United.
A fixture steeped in history, the Black Cats made a bright start but just 60 seconds after Lewis Grabban struck the crossbar they fell behind and it proved pivotal.
SUPER CALI FRAGILISTIC EZGJAN ALIOSKI
There was little between the two sides overall but Ezgjan Alioski was the difference. The Macedonian livewire flummoxed the Sunderland backline from start to finish and, fittingly, he produced the moment that mattered with the Macedonian assisting Samuel’s opener. Alioski would have capped off an impressive display with a goal of his own but Steele, who was on hand to produce two second-half saves. But the damage was done and the winger played a role in Leeds’ second, with a lung-busting run creating space for Samuel whose cross was powered home by Stuart Dallas.
EXIT INCOMING
Leeds were dealt a blow ahead of the game with Burnley-bound talisman Chris Wood unavailable. The free-scoring striker has been linked with a move away from Elland Road throughout the summer, and he looks to have sealed his exit. Wood, who was the Sky Bet Championship’s top scorer last season, travelled to Wearside with his team-mates, but a big-money bid from Burnley was reportedly accepted just hours before kick-off, meaning he didn’t line up against the Lads. Sunderland, meanwhile, remained unchanged with Simon Grayson once again keeping the faith with a starting XI that had made an unbeaten start to the campaign.
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
Grayson challenged his side to make a fast start and create a cauldron of noise in the early stages, and they did just that. The Black Cats were desperately unlucky not to gain an early advantage as a flurry of chances came and went, with Grabban inches away from connecting as Brendan Galloway flashed a ball across the face of goal. James Vaughan was then denied by Pontus Jansson as the Sweden international produced a flying block, before Caleb Ekuban – a summer signing and Wood’s replacement – squandered the Whites’ first sight at goal. But the best chance of all came on 19 minutes, as Grabban and Vaughan combined to devastating effect and the former’s curling effort crashed off the underside of the crossbar.
SUCKER PUNCH
60 seconds later, Leeds took the lead. Lamine Kone stepped out of defence to clear his lines and missed the ball, with Alioski seizing possession and squaring it to Samuel who took one touch before coolly finishing past Jason Steele. The opener was against the run of play but the Black Cats paid the price for switching off and the right flank continued to provide a source of optimism for the visitors. And just a few minutes later, Alisoki was toying with Galloway again, but this time Pablo Hernandez failed to hit the target with the former Valencia forward’s header looping wide. Hernandez was then replaced before George Honeyman and Aiden McGeady switched flanks in an attempt to quell Alisoki’s impact, but the winger remained a nuisance and fired wide to end Leeds’ next attack.
UNITED DOUBLE UP
Sunderland struggled to create clear-cut openings in the first-half and it was a problem which plagued their play following the restart, with a gruelling schedule seemingly taking its toll. Grayson needed to freshen things up and inject purpose into the attack, so with 54 minutes played he called upon reinforcements. Wahbi Khazri replaced Vaughan and Matthews was also introduced after Galloway pulled up and was unable to play on. Alioski continued to tease the Sunderland defence and forced Steele into two saves, but it was a lack of cutting edge in the opposite third was ultimately the Black Cats’ downfall. Joel Asoro was also introduced but it was a United change which did damage, as Dallas powered a header beyond Steele after Alioski’s persistence engineered the counter.
Sunderland: Steele, Jones, Browning, Kone, Galloway (Matthews 54), Cattermole (Asoro 74), Ndong, Honeyman, McGeady, Grabban, Vaughan (Khazri 54).
Subs: Ruiter, O’Shea, Gibson, Gooch.
Leeds United: Wiedwald, Ayling, Cooper, Jansson, Anita, Phillips, O’Kane, Hernandez (Roofe 24), Samuel (Klich 81), Alioski, Ekuban (Dallas 62).
Subs: Green, Borthwfwick-Jackson, Vieira, Shaughnessey.
Referee: A Davies
Attendance: 31, 237