Ipswich Town 1-1 Sunderland
Sunderland fought back against Ipswich Town to claim a point at Portman Road on Saturday.
The home side came out on top during the opening 45 minutes, with Luke Garbutt’s early opener earning a slender advantage at the break.
After weathering the storm, Jack Ross’ side struck back following the restart and they levelled through Lynden Gooch’s second goal in as many games.
The game remained in the balance entering the latter stages, but there was nothing to separate the sides at full-time.
James Norwood and Kayden Jackson provided the main threat early on, as a fast start at Portman Road saw the Lads forced to defend.
With 14 minutes played, Ipswich found a breakthrough, with Garbutt showing grit and determination to bring the ball under his spell before dispatching a composed finish beyond Jon McLaughlin.
The home side continued to press forward following the opener, as McLaughlin was called into action to claw a menacing cross to safety before multiple Town penalty appeals were correctly waved away.
After the half-hour mark, Tom Flanagan made a vital intervention inside the six-yard box to clear a Danny Rowe-destined cross, while McLaughlin remained busy to stop Garbutt’s fizzed effort before Norwood saw two shots blocked.
The interval offered an opportunity to regroup, and Chris Maguire was introduced ahead of the second period.
Ross’ side threatened following the restart, with a marginal offside-call denying McNulty a clear run at goal before the striker just failed to connect with a sumptuous McGeady cross.
The tide continued to turn following the hour mark – and the Lads were rewarded soon after.
Pure persistence from McNulty led the way, as the striker chased down a seemingly lost cause before dispossessing his man and picking out Gooch, who powered the ball home.
Both sides piled forward in the closing stages, with McLaughlin and his opposite number, Tomas Holy, forced to be quick off the mark to collect teasing through balls.
But it remained level, as both sides claimed a point.
Ipswich Town: Holy, Donacien, Chambers, Skuse, Jackson, Norwood, Rowe (Dozzell 79), Downes, Woolfenden, Garbutt (Judge 39), Kenlock.
Subs not used: Norris, Wilson, Roberts, El Mizouni, Huws.
Sunderland: McLaughlin, C McLaughlin, Willis (Ozturk 81), Flanagan, O'Nien, Hume (Maguire 45), McGeouch, Dobson, McGeady (Grigg 71), Gooch, McNulty.
Subs not used: Burge, Power, Embleton, Leadbitter.