Sunderland 2-0 Brentford
Sunderland were beaten 2-0 by Brentford at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
Dean Smith’s side made a bright start on Wearside and sealed a two-goal advantage before the break, as Kamo Mokotjo and Neal Maupay found the net.
Review all the action below…
DEFENSIVE RESHUFFLE
Chris Coleman made two changes for the game as Ovie Ejaria and Bryan Oviedo missed out. Ethan Robson and Aiden McGeady, who starred in last week’s dramatic comeback at Ashton Gate, came into the side, with Jonny Williams amongst the substitutes. Meanwhile, Kazenga LuaLua wasn’t included in the matchday squad as Brentford’s one change saw Mokotjo replace Nico Yennaris.
ONE LIAM MILLER
One week after Liam Miller sadly passed away, the Stadium of Light paid tribute to the former Black Cat. A minute’s applause was held ahead of kick-off, during which ‘one Liam Miller’ echoed around Wearside as both sets of supporters provided a fitting tribute ahead of the game.
BEES ON TOP
Brentford made a fast start to the game and heaped pressure on Sunderland’s back four – a change in system from recent weeks – as Florian Jozefzoon looped the ball over Lee Camp before John O’Shea headed the ball behind with two minutes played. Josh McEachran crafted that move and soon after he forced Camp into his first save of the afternoon, with the former Chelsea man powering the ball at the stopper who did well to turn it behind.
DEADLOCK BROKEN
With 11 minutes on the clock, Brentford should have opened the scoring. After flicking the ball wide to the overlapping Henrik Dalsgaard, Jozefzoon picked up a good position in the penalty area but he failed to make it count, as the midfielder fired straight at Camp. 60 seconds later, the Bees led. O’Shea and Lee Cattermole crowded out Maupay but they failed to clear and the striker wriggled free, with Mototjo drilling the ball low into the corner after being teed up by his team-mate on the edge of the box.
BEES DOUBLE UP
The Bees continued to push forward and test the Black Cats’ resistance, as Oli Watkins and Jozefzoon both failed to find the target following intricate build-up play. Coleman’s men responded by applying pressure at the other end, but they were unable to produce a cutting edge, as Joel Asoro’s cross was easily cut out and Daniel Bentley gathered McGeady’s speculative 25-yard strike. But with 27 minutes played it was 2-0, as Maupay’s deft backheel turned Watkins’ low cross beyond Camp and into the net.
SECOND-HALF RESPONSE
Before the break, Sunderland had chances to haul themselves back into the game. Honeyman led the charge, with the midfielder cutting through the Brentford defence like a knife through butter before finding the side netting. And 60 seconds later his lofted ball down the right channel unleashed Asoro, but Bentley managed to get a decisive touch and divert the ball behind. Brentford also had chances and a timely recovery from Ty Browning denied Maupay a clean run at goal, with Honeyman clipping the crossbar in added time.
DOUBLE CHANGE
Coleman wasted no time in changing his line up and as the Black Cats emerged for the second period, they did so without Browning and Robson as Adam Matthews and Jonny Williams entered the fray. Just like last week, though, it was Asoro who injected purpose into Sunderland’s play as the youngster jinxed past two before pulling the ball back to McGeady who fired wide. As with Asoro, McGeady’s quality represented the best route back into the game and in a mirrored move he picked out Williams, but Brentford scrambled the ball behind.
BEES CLINCH POINTS
After a brighter start to the second period, Sunderland struggled to find their groove and they were frustrated by the Bees. Smith’s side worked tirelessly as both sides struggled to create any clear-cut opportunities, but Josh Maja’s introduction gave them a different kind of threat to quell. With 10 minutes remaining, the youngster did well to hold up the ball and make his way into the box where he was a fraction away from connecting with Asoro’s cross, but, unfortunately, there was to be no grandstand finale as Brentford returned to the capital with three points.
Sunderland: Camp, Jones, O’Shea, Browning (Matthews 45), Clarke-Salter, Cattermole, Robson (Williams 45), Honeyman, McGeady, Asoro, Fletcher (Maja 73).
Subs not used: Steele, McManaman, Gooch, Kone.
Brentford: Bentley, Bjelland, Jozefzoon, Maupay (Marcondes 83), McEachran (Woods 57), Watkins, Mokotjo (Judge 77), Egan, Sawyers, Clarke, Dalsgaard.
Subs not used: Daniels, McLeod, Barbet, Mepham.