Shrewsbury Town 1-0 Sunderland
Sunderland fell to a 1-0 defeat at Shrewsbury Town on Saturday afternoon.
Jason Cummings opened the scoring midway through the opening period, with the post denying Chris Maguire a stunning equaliser before the break.
Shrewsbury battled to make life difficult for the Lads, and when chances did arrive, luck fell in their favour.
The Black Cats continued to push, with Luke O’Nien’s header striking the post before Max Power rattled the crossbar, but home side held on to take the points.
Phil Parkinson made one change for today’s League One showdown, as Aiden McGeady replaced the injured Lynden Gooch.
And the winger was inches away from making an immediate impact.
A free-flowing move saw Maguire and Dever Hume combine, with the latter crossing to the Republic of Ireland international who fired over the top.
Maguire, McGeady and Duncan Watmore continued to enjoy time on the ball, but within a blink of an eye, dominance turned to dust on 22 minutes.
Josh Laurent engineered the opening and Cummings produced the finish, with the forward steering a low drive beyond a helpless Lee Burge.
Despite Sunderland continuing to enjoy time on the ball, the on-loan Nottingham Forest man also delivered the next pop at goal, as Burge pushed a 25-yard free-kick to safety.
Maguire went closest to levelling before the break – his thunderous 25-yard strike cannoning off the inside of the post – but the Lads headed down the tunnel behind.
Sunderland were forced into a change at the interval, with Jon McLaughlin replacing Burge.
Both sides had to be on their toes following the restart, as Watmore’s first touch was charged down before Hume read the danger at the other end to make a vital clearance.
Marc McNulty was soon introduced, and Shrewsbury were forced further back into their own territory, but luck was on their side as the game entered the closing stages.
First, Max O’Leary pushed O’Nien’s header against the post, with Power’s piledriver clattering the crossbar just a few minutes later.
Benji Kimpioka entered the fray with ten minutes on the clock, but Shrewsbury rode out the storm and claimed the points.
Shrewsbury Town: O’Leary, Pierre, Golbourne, Edwards (Thompson 67), Williams, Beckles, Whalley (Goss 81), Norburn, Love, Laurent, Cummings (Okenabirhie 56).
Subs not used: Murphy, Okenabirhie, Walker, McCormick, Barnett.
Sunderland: Burge (J McLaughlin 45), Lynch, Willis, O’Nien, Hume, Power, Dobson, Maguire, McGeady, Watmore (McNulty 58), Grigg (Kimpioka 81).
Substitutes: C McLaughlin, McGeouch, Flanagan, Leadbitter.