Sunderland AFC 0-1 Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town secured a 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon to knock Sunderland out of the Emirates FA Cup.
The Stags opened the scoring on Wearside with seven minutes on the clock, as Rhys Oates seized on a loose pass and made the Black Cats pay.
Making his first start since the Lads’ 5-0 win over Cheltenham Town, Nathan Broadhead came closest to a reply during the opening period when his effort was well-saved.
George Lapslie and Ollie Hawkins threatened before the break and Dan Neil sent a rasping effort just wide following an interval that included four Sunderland changes.
Corry Evans also saw a goalbound effort cleared to safety late on and Neil struck the woodwork, as Mansfield sealed their place in round two of the competition.
Sunderland made six changes from the side that lined up at Hillsborough Stadium, as Lee Burge, Frederik Alves, Bailey Wright, Elliot Embleton Leon Dajaku and came into the starting XI.
Nigel Clough also freshened things up and it was his side that edged in front early on at the Stadium of Light.
A wayward clearance from Burge was fired straight into Oates’ path and the forward did the rest, slotting a calm finish against the inside of the post and into the net.
Sunderland responded by fashioning their first opportunity of the encounter, but Dajaku headed high and wide after Wright’s pass beat the Mansfield press and allowed Dennis Cirkin and Embleton to combined.
The visitors almost doubled their lead on 27 minutes through Harry Charsley, who fired a low finish inches wide of the post.
Johnson’s men crafted their best opening of the first half when Broadhead’s powerful header forced Nathan Bishop into action, but Mansfield volleyed back with two chances in quick succession.
An excellent block deflected Lapslie’s effort inches over the top and Hawkins headed the resulting corner against the crossbar, ensuring it remained 1-0 at the interval.
The Lads made four changes ahead of the second period, as Callum Doyle, Carl Winchester, Alex Pritchard and Lynden Gooch replaced Tom Flanagan, Alves, O’Brien and Dajaku
Dan Neil’s rising effort soared inches wide following the restart after Gooch drove forward, but the visitors stuck to their task and frustrated the Black Cats.
A golden opportunity arrived on 82 minutes and Corry Evans slammed a 10-yard finish towards goal, however, George Maris stuck out a leg and smashed the ball clear.
Neil was inches away from a spectacular stoppage-time equaliser, but the crossbar denied the midfielder and the Stags booked their place in round two.
Sunderland AFC: Burge, Flanagan (Doyle 45), Wright, Alves (Winchester 45), Cirkin (O’Nien 70), Evans, Neil, Embleton, O’Brien (Pritchard 45), Dajaku (Gooch 45), Broadhead.
Subs not used: Hoffmann, Taylor, Younger, Harris.
Mansfield Town: Bishop, McLauglin, Hewitt, Charsley (Forrester 90)Clarke’s Maris, Hawkins, Quinn, Oates (Bowery 62), Lapslie (Sinclair 84), O’Toole.
Subs not used: Johnson, Shelvey, Burke, Ward, Clarke, Law.