Bristol City 1-0 Sunderland AFC
Sunderland AFC tasted defeat for the first time since November on Saturday afternoon, as Bristol City claimed a narrow win at Ashton Gate.
Tommy Conway opened the scoring from the spot after the Black Cats gifted the Robins an early opening, with the opening 45 yielding further missed opportunities for both sides.
A dominant start to the second period went unrewarded for Mike Dodds’ side, as Max O’Leary denied Pierre Ekwah before somehow clawing Luke O’Nien’s header to safety.
Multiple penalty appeals were then waved away in quick succession and that summed up the Lads luck on the day, as they made the long trip back to Wearside empty-handed.
The Black Cats were loose in possession early on and Dan Ballard was forced into a decisive interception when Mark Sykes threatened, but their luck expired on the 20-minute mark.
Careless play at the back once again opened the door and Anthony Patterson’s rushed challenge on Taylor Gardner-Hickman led to a penalty, which was converted by Conway.
An incredible run from Patrick Roberts ended in a shot straight at O’Leary, as the Robins continued to turn the screw and Mehmeti struck the post.
A flying save from Patterson denied Gardner-Hickman moments later, with Jack Clarke and Alex Pritchard mustering meaningful attempts before the interval.
O’Leary fumbled Ekwah’s fierce drive behind for a corner after the restart, with a brave block denying the Frenchman a second sight at goal moments later.
An incredible goalline intervention from the Robins goalkeeper then denied O’Nien, who saw a second headed attempt saved on the hour mark.
Questionable decisions followed as the Lads saw multiple penalty appeals waved away, with Ekwah also on the end of a crunching challenge after O’Leary denied Jobe.
The Black Cats continued to push forward in search of what would have been a deserved equaliser, but the home side held on to claim three points.
Bristol City: O’Leary, Tanner, Vyner, Dickie, Pring, Sykes (Bell 81), James (Williams 69), Gardner-Hickman, Mehmeti (Cornick 69), Knight, Conway (Weimann 76)
Subs not used: Wells, Bajic, Knight-Lebel, Yeboah.
Sunderland AFC: Patterson, O’Nien, Ballard, Hume, Huggins, Neil, Ekwah (Dack 80), Pritchard (Aouchiche 80), Roberts, Ba (Jobe 62), Clarke.
Subs not used: Bishop, Triantis, Seelt, Rusyn, Maydena, Burstow.