Sam Lightle reviews the action from the Stadium of Light as Sunderland resumed their Sky Bet Championship campaign this afternoon against Sheffield United.
Clayton Donaldson scored twice on his Sheffield United debut to defeat Sunderland on Wearside this afternoon.
The Deadline Day signing from Birmingham City broke the deadlock midway through the opening period, with a bit of help from the inside of the post.
Sunderland debutants Jonny Williams and Callum McManaman were bright and energetic but they were unable to help find a way back into the match.
And with 13 minutes left on the clock, Donaldson dealt the Black Cats the ultimate sucker punch and when he slammed home a second to seal all three points on Wearside.
Jack Rodwell reduced the arrears in the dying embers, touching home a free-kick but it proved too little too late.
A SHUFFLED PACK
Simon Grayson has handed debuts to two new signings in a much-changed Sunderland side this afternoon. Williams and Marc Wilson made their first appearance in red and white, with Jack Rodwell also returning to the side following injury. However, arguably the biggest news of the afternoon was that Lee Cattermole, Bryan Oviedo and Aiden McGeady missed out. To the action...
STUNNED
After a drab opening, the game sparked to life when James Vaughan almost made contact with George Honeyman’s in-swinging free-kick from the right side. Honeyman then sparked further life into the Black Cats’ attacking play, linking up with Didier Ndong who saw his ball from the byline into Lewis Grabban cut out as he got in behind. Sunderland, though, were unable to really test Jamal Blackman, let alone carve out a goalscoring chance and with 20 minutes Sheffield United went down the other end and did exactly that. Deadline day signing Donaldson spun on the edge of the box and fired his strike against the inside of the post and into the back of the net.
UP AGAINST IT
From there, the Blades really took the match to Sunderland, with Robbin Ruiter being forced to turn Donaldson’s looping header over the bar before Stevens was a yard away from making contact with Kieron Freeman’s cross from the right. The Black Cats stuck at it, debutant Jonny Williams was industrious with his efforts, buzzing around the pitch in an attempt to win possession and drive the lads forward. His free-kick from the right deceived everyone as it flashed across the face of goal, and then neat foot work from Grabban saw him pick out Vaughan in the middle but his acrobatic attempt bounced wide.
HALF TO CHANGE
Grayson introduced the experienced head of John O’Shea at the break, replacing Ivorian Lamine Kone in the heart of defence. And so, the action resumed. Williams continued to tinker away in midfield, driving forward from deep and sweeping the ball from side to side to draw out one of United’s stubborn defenders out of position. But chances continued to be at a real premium for the Black Cats and that forced Grayson to introduce new signing Callum McManaman on the hour mark, in replace of Vaughan. And McManaman’s impact was immediate as his pace, trickery and directness caused havoc in the United ranks. The winger collected the ball on the right flank and a step over later he whipped a ball towards the head of Williams who was knocked to the deck as he climbed to meet it. Referee waved play on despite strong appeals from all corners of the Stadium of Light.
SUCKER PUNCH
But as Sunderland looked to crank up the pressure as the game headed towards its tail end, Donaldson added a second. The former Birmingham City striker broke the Black Cats offside trap and rammed the ball home from 20 yards to seal victory on Wearside. Sunderland did manage to get one back, Rodwell got the faintest of touches on a free-kick from the right in the dying embers of injury time but it proved too little too late.
Sunderland: Ruiter, Williams, Rodwell, Vaughan (McManaman, 58), Grabban, Galloway, Ndong, Browning, Kone (O’Shea, 45), Honeyman (Gooch, 73), Wilson
Subs: Steele, Jones, Matthews, Gibson
Sheffield United: Blackman, Stevens, Fleck, O’Connell, Basham, Sharp (Brooks 66), Donaldson (Baldock, 79), Wright, Coutts, Freeman, Duffy (Lundstram, 66)
Subs: Eastwood, Cater-Vickers, Lafferty, Evans
Referee: J. Simpson