Luckless Sunderland fell to Sheffield Wednesday at the Stadium of Light on Easter Monday, as Jos Luhukay’s side executed the perfect smash and grab on Wearside.
The Black Cats bossed the opening period and second-half continued in a similar fashion, but Lucas Jaoa pounced before the hour mark to send the visitors into the lead.
It didn’t last and George Honeyman’s second goal in as many games levelled matters within 60 seconds of the restart, as the red and white army listened to Chris Coleman’s pre-match call and got behind their team.
But it wasn’t to be despite the Lads’ best efforts, as Tom Lees reclaimed Wednesday’s advantage before Atdhe Nuhiu completed the scoring with 15 minutes remaining.
Review all the action below…
ONE CHANGE
Coleman made one change ahead of the game as Marc Wilson replaced Lamine Kone in the starting XI. The Ivory Coast international wasn’t included in the matchday squad, but the Black Cats were handed a bench boost as Ovie Ejaria and Joel Asoro recovered from the injuries that ruled them out of Friday’s win over Derby County at Pride Park.
ELECTRIC OPENING
The opening 120 seconds were as action-packed as they come as an electric start to the encounter saw both sides sense the opportunity to take an early lead. Successive balls into the mix forced Wednesday into non-nonsense clearances before George Honeyman was crowded out in the box, but the visitors flexed their offensive muscle on the counter as Joao stormed forward before seeing his cross cut out. The Owls were dealt a blow with just eight minutes on the clock, though, as Morgan Fox limped down the tunnel and was replaced by Jordan Thorniley.
LADS ON TOP
The Black Cats continued to dominate the ball and went within a whisker of opening the scoring on ten minutes, as Donald Love’s 25-yard drive whistled over the top. And 60 seconds later the Lads went close again, Lynden Gooch drawing a similar reaction from the red and white army as his effort flashed off target. A crunching challenge then left Paddy McNair in a heap, but Bryan Oviedo was unable to register a meaningful effort on goal, as the Owls responded with another menacing counter.
AS YOU WERE
Hesitant goalkeeping followed as Joe Wildsmith flapped at McGeady’s testing corner, but from the follow up the stopper released Joao and Wednesday had two on one in the final third before Wilson raced back and made a fine intervention. After slight lull following the half-hour mark, the Black Cats ramped up the pressure in the closing stages of the half, as McGeady’s 20-yard free-kick was punched clear before Gooch was fouled on the edge of the box. But it remained goalless, and there was everything to play for ahead of the second 45.
BOMBARDMENT
Sunderland would have led within two minutes of the restart had it not been for a phenomenal block from Jack Hunt. The defender managed to divert Oviedo’s cross into the side netting after the visitors were caught napping, with Fletcher, who lost his marker, waiting to apply a simple finish. Love then saw a clever pull-back cleared before McNair’s effort was blocked by an arm, but the referee shook his head and play resumed despite the Black Cats’ appeals. Wednesday remained penned in as the wing-based bombardment continued, but they defended manfully to frustrate Coleman’s men.
SUCKER PUNCH
On 58 minutes, an excruciating sucker punch arrived. The Black Cats failed to stop Barry Bannan’s cross and when Oviedo and Nuhiu went up for the ball in a complete miss-match, there was only ever going to be one winner. Joao powered home the towering forward’s knock down, and it was advantage Wednesday. But the lead wouldn’t last long. From the restart, the typically tenacious Gooch managed to get away from his man and curl the ball to the back post where Honeyman headed home. Game on!
BEHIND AGAIN
The Lads fell behind for the second time, though, as Lees applied a simple finish from Joey Pelupessey’s free-kick, but they once again responded well as Lee Cattermole’s low effort cannoned off the inside of the post and across the face of goal. Gooch was then sent tumbling in the box after beating his man at the byline, but for the second time in the game, the referee wasn’t interested. McGeady then menaced but his venomous strike was deflected just out of Fletcher’s reach, with the subsequent corner dropping to Wilson who failed to connect properly.
KNOCKOUT BLOW
Sunderland’s lucked was summed up soon after as Wednesday grabbed a third and effectively ended the contest. Lee Camp produced a brilliant save from point-blank range to deny Joao, but the ball dropped perfectly for Nuhiu who bagged from close range. Coleman’s men continued to fight until the final whistle and saw a third penalty appeal waved away when McGeady went down under pressure, but Wednesday held out and, somehow, returned to Hillsborough with three points.
Attendance: 29, 786
Sunderland: Camp, Oviedo (Matthews 64), McNair, Cattermole, Fletcher, O’Shea, McGeady, Love, Honeyman (Ejaria 83), Gooch (Asoro 83), Wilson.
Subs not used: Steele, LuaLua, McManaman, Maja.
Sheffield Wednesday: Wildsmith, Hunt, Fox (Thorniley 8), Bannan (Jones 83), Lees, Nuhiu, Joao (Forestieri 90), Reach, Boyd, Pelupessy, Venancio.
Subs not used: Dawson, Rhodes, Butterfield, Matias.