Wycombe Wanderers 1-1 Sunderland
Duncan Watmore struck in stoppage time on Saturday to clinch a late draw at Wycombe Wanderers, as Sunderland’s unbeaten run extended to 17.
Searching for a fifth win on the spin, the Lads fell behind with 35 minutes on the clock when Alex Samuel’s well-taken finish found the back of the net.Tom Flanagan went close for Jack Ross’ side, crashing a header off the woodwork following the restart, but Watmore pounced in the fourth minute of added time to deny to the hosts.
And the drama wasn’t over there, as Nathan Tyson, Marcus Bean and George Honeyman, who had already been substituted, were sent off.
The Lads will be back on action on Tuesday evening when they travel to second-placed Barnsley.
Both sides enjoyed time on the ball during the opening exchanges, and there was a fiery nature to the game which was epitomised when Samuel clattered into Luke O’Nien and picked up the first yellow card with 11 played.
Lee Cattermole was left in a similarly crumpled heap moments later following a clash of heads, and after knocking the Black Cats out of their rhythm, Wycombe crafted the first clear-cut opportunity.
Driving down the left, Tyson flashed the ball across goal and Luke Bolton timed his back-post run to perfection, but he failed to find the target from close range.
The Chairboys wouldn’t have to wait too much longer for an opener, though, and after Bolton limped off to be replaced by Paris Cowan-Hall, the substitute made an immediate impact.
The midfielder drove into the final third and evaded Leadbitter, but the finish was all about Samuel, who calmly slotted into the bottom corner from 10 yards.
Sunderland made a change at the break, as Adam Matthews replaced Reece James.
The Lads raced out of the blocks and mustered their best opening of the game within five minutes of the restart, with Flanagan’s glancing header thudding off the crossbar.
Ross made his second change on the hour mark, as Watmore entered the fray.
But the next opportunity arrived from the opposite flank, as McGeady’s trademark spin left three defenders for dead before Morgan’s subsequent effort was bravely blocked behind.
Lynden Gooch was next off the bench as the Lads made their third and final change, but Matt Bloomfield almost delivered a knockout blow with 15 minutes remaining, as McLaughlin parried his thumping volley behind.
Jimmy Dunne could and perhaps should have levelled on 85 minutes, but he headed straight at Ryan Allsop from inside the six-yard box.
Watmore made no mistake though, converting the follow-up after Allsop spilled the initial attempt on goal.
Tempers flared as a result, with Tyson, Bean and Honeyman dismissed deep into stoppage time.
Wycombe Wanderers: Allsop, Jombati, Jacobsen, Gape, Stewart, Bean, Bloomfield (Thompson 90), Bolton (Cowan-Hall 28), Tyson (Harriman 83), Samuel, McCarthy.
Subs not used: Ma-Kalamby, Kashket, Owens, Akinfenwa.
Sunderland: McLaughlin, Flanagan, Dunne, O’Nien, James (Matthews 45), Leadbitter, Cattermole, Honeyman (Watmore 61), Morgan (Gooch 78), McGeady, Grigg.
Subs not used: Ruiter, McGeouch, Baldwin, Power.
