Sunderland 0-1 Barnsley
Injury-ravaged Sunderland started 2018 with a whimper as Barnsley ended a 10-game winless run at the Stadium of Light.
Mamadou Thiam struck the crossbar inside the opening four minutes as the Tykes made a bright start on Wearside, but Sunderland fought their way back into the game before Darron Gibson was forced off.
Bryan Oviedo rattled the crossbar before the break but was replaced at the interval, with Barnsley’s Ethan Pinnock capitalising on a defensive reshuffle within 60 seconds of the restart to hand Paul Heckingbottom’s side a priceless victory.
TWO CHANGES
Chris Coleman made two changes from the side that defeated Nottingham Forest at the County Ground, as Bryan Oviedo and James Vaughan replaced Marc Wilson and Josh Maja. Wilson wasn’t included in the squad and his absence brought about a change at the back, with Adam Matthews moving into a central position as Donald Love and Oviedo played out wide. Paddy McNair started on a bench that also included Tom Beadling, Elliot Embleton, Joel Asoro and Josh Maja, with ten of Coleman’s first-team squad stuck in the treatment room.
RATTLED
Sunderland made a weary start to the game and with four minutes played the crossbar came to their rescue. Despite being closed down by Matthews and John O’Shea, Thiam managed to let fly from 30 yards and his thumping effort cannoned off the crossbar, allowing Robbin Ruiter and the red and white army to breath a huge sigh of relief. The 22-year-old striker continued to cause problems, forcing Ruiter into a hurried clearance before winning a free-kick in the final third. And Adam Hammill also saw an effort fly wide, with the visitors firmly in the ascendancy during the early exchanges.
FITNESS WOES CONTINUE
The Tykes’ dominance somewhat wavered in the period that followed but they remained a threat as a frenetic game threatened to spiral out of control. Both sides struggled to maintain any periods of control on the ball and defending was at a premium, as McManaman – Sunderland’s biggest threat in the first 45 – saw an effort blocked before several Love crosses were scrambled to safety. But just as they started to take charge, the Black Cats were dealt yet another injury blow as Darron Gibson, who has been hampered by a groin problem, limped down the tunnel. McNair, who made a timely return to the squad, was his replacement.
ALL-SQUARE
Love was more of a winger than a wing-back for much of the opening period, but with 35 minutes played he received a gentle reminder of his defensive duties as Lloyd Isgrove broke into space. The former Manchester United man tracked back and put pressure on the midfielder but was unable to stop the shot, as Ruiter stood his ground to ensure it remained level. Parity was almost broken before the break as Oviedo crashed a 25-yard free-kick off the post, but it remained level after 45 minutes with both sides firmly in the game.
BLACK CATS PUNISHED
Coleman made a second change ahead of the second period as the Maja replaced Oviedo and the Black Cats went with two up top. It was a clear sign of intent from the Black Cats but within minutes of the restart Barnsley took advantage of a defensive reshuffle and took a 1-0 lead. Pinnock, who scored a late equaliser against Reading on Saturday, applied the decisive touch, but he did so under no pressure whatsoever, as the Sunderland defence inexplicably allowed a corner to bounce inside the six-yard box and towards the centre back who nodded the ball into the net.
LACKLUSTRE RESPONSE
Sunderland were slow to respond as Barnsley sensed an opportunity to ram home their advantage, but Ruiter was once again in top form to deny the lively Isgrove. The Lads responded with a third and final change as Asoro replaced McManaman, but McNair came closest to equalising with the Northern Ireland midfielder volleying wide when he should have found the target. Maja then came close, glancing a near-post header a fraction too high and onto the roof of the net before drama right at the end saw Vaughan hook the ball towards goal from a corner with replays showing it was cleared by the arm of the Barnsley defender on the line.
Attendance: 28,311
Sunderland: Ruiter, Browning, O’Shea, Matthews, Oviedo (Maja 46), Love, Gibson (McNair 32), Honeyman, McManaman (Asoro 61), McGeady, Vaughan.
Subs: Steele, Jones, Embleton, Beadling.
Barnsley: Davies, Isgrove, Thiam (Bradshaw 73), Cavare, Williams, Pinnock, Fryers, Potts, Gardner (Moncur 74), Hammill, Lindsay.
Subs not used: Townsend, Ugbo, Mallan, McGeehan, McCarthy.