Sunderland failed to build on a three-game unbeaten run as Bristol City snatched a narrow win on Wearside.
The Black Cats made a bright start and despite falling behind they mounted the perfect response, but the Robins swooped in for three points in the second period and the wait for a home win continues.
THE WRAP
Sunderland suffered a 2-1 defeat against Bristol City on Saturday as their Stadium of Light hoodoo continued. It all started so well but after dominating the opening 25 minutes, the Black Cats fell behind. The Sky Bet Championship’s top scorer, Bobby Reid, got the opener and it was all too easy as he headed home from close range, but Simon Grayson’s side responded before the break as Lewis Grabban took advantage of a goalmouth scramble on the stroke of half-time. It should have been the catalyst for a first home win of 2017, but three quickfire changes from Lee Johnson turned the tide and Milan Djuric’s header separated the two sides at the final whistle.
MANAGERS SHUFFLE THEIR PACKS
Both managers shuffled their respective packs ahead of the game, with Simon Grayson switching up his midfield as Lee Johnson recalled his big hitters after Tuesday’s Carabao Cup mauling against Crystal Palace. Darron Gibson and Jonny Williams both started at the Stadium of Light as Lee Cattermole and George Honeyman dropped to a bench that also included Paddy McNair, while City recalled Frank Fielding, Nathan Baker, Jamie Paterson and Reid.
BLACK CATS ON TOP
Sunderland showed real desire in the opening ten minutes and their hunger for the ball carried their performance levels above their counterparts. Williams adopted a free role as Gibson shielded the back four and Didier Ndong provided the energy, with Bryan Oviedo having the first crack at goal. After denying the Costa Rican, City stopper Frank Fielding produced a similar stop to deny Ndong before John O’Shea was somehow denied at the back post, as the slightest of deflections sent his back-post effort whistling over the top.
SUSTAINED PRESSURE
Ahead of the game, Williams stated the need to apply ‘sustained pressure’ and he was an integral part in just that as Sunderland commanded the play. Grayson’s men continued to push forward and City rarely had any time on the ball – and when they did they were quickly intercepted as the Black Cats snapped at their heels. Excellent all-round play from Ndong almost crafted the next opening as a last-ditch interception denied Grabban a clear run at goal, but moments later the striker did latch onto a forward pass as Duncan Watmore clipped a ball into his path. Fielding burst out but Grabban beat him to the punch, however his dinked finish carried agonisingly over the crossbar.
ALL-TO FAMILIAR
Bristol City had done absolutely nothing in the opening 20 minutes. And I mean nothing. So, naturally, they took the lead on 28 minutes as the Sky Bet Championship’s top scorer Reid headed home. The makeshift striker, who played as a midfielder before this campaign, won’t have an easier finish all season, as he headed home at the back post after a looping corner caught the Black Cats napping.
REDEMPTION
After initially struggling to regroup, the Black Cats dusted themselves down and sought about finding an equaliser. Drama followed before the break and, honestly, it seemed like it was going to be one of those days, as Fielding somehow recovered to claw Gibson’s deflected effort off the before Ndong’s follow-up clearly struck a hand and the resulting appeals fell on deaf ears. But, finally, and more than deservingly, Sunderland levelled with mere seconds of first-half stoppage time remaining, with Grabban poking the ball home from close range after City failed to clear in their six-yard box.
DEADLOCKED
Reid continued to lead the charge for City but Sunderland, as they did throughout much of the first half, remained comfortable at the back, but the visitors did start the second period with an added intensity and their increased work rate made it tough to create in the final third. As such, Grayson made his first change on 66 minutes as Williams departed and Callum McManaman entered the fray, but it was City who went close next as Callum O’Dowda’s thunderous effort was saved by Jason Steele.
CITY UNSHACKLED
A second warning shot was fired towards the Black Cats after Steele’s save, as Aden Flint curled off target after superb hold-up play from Reid, the tide had already turned. For the first time in the game, City showed more desire and more energy and they duly reaped the rewards, with substitute Djuric powering a header beyond the helpless Steele after O’Dowda whipped a pinpoint ball into the six-yard box. Paddy McNair returned to action late on but there was no way back as three points went to the visitors.
Attendance: 27,317
Sunderland: Steele, Jones, Oviedo, O’Shea, Kone, Gibson (McNair 79), Ndong, Williams (McManaman 66), McGeady, Watmore (Vaughan 79), Grabban.
Subs: Ruiter, Cattermole, Matthews, Honeyman.
Bristol City: Fielding, Bryan, Flint, Wright, Baker (Pisano 36), Brownhill, Taylor, O’Dowda, Reid, Paterson (Djuric 55), Pack.
Subs: Steele, Smith, Woodrow, Magnusson, Leko.