Sunderland See Unbeaten Run End

03/12/2024 10:35 Share

Sunderland’s unbeaten run in the EFL Championship has come to an end after a narrow loss to Sheffield United in a battle between two of the top teams in the division.

Although the Black Cats had suffered five successive draws, the Bristol Street Motors-backed side was on an impressive unbeaten run going into the game against a side that was keen to maintain an unbeaten record of its own.

Sunderland had chances to go ahead early on, with Jobe Bellingham having an effort blocked in the box before the lively Tommy Watson earned a penalty when he surged into the Sheffield United box and was taken down by Jack Robinson.

Patrick Roberts stepped up to take the spot kick but ‘keeper Michael Cooper guessed right to keep the ball out and maintain the status quo.

Watson then set up Wilson Isidor to fire narrowly wide as Sunderland continued to dominate in the final third before the game took a twist at the other end.

A mistake in the midfield saw the home side win the ball and when Tyrese Campbell went down under the challenge of Chris Mepham on the edge of the box, the Sunderland man was dismissed by referee Gavin Ward.

The scores remained level until the break, by which stage it had become 10 v 10 following the dismissal of Harry Souttar after he picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Isidor.

After Sunderland’s domination of the first half, Sheffield United grew into the game after the break, with Anthony Patterson pulling off a number of smart saves to keep the game goalless.

However, Patterson could do nothing to keep out a low drive from Tom Davies with just seven minutes left to play that secured the points for the home side and moved them to the top of the table, with Sunderland now lying in fourth spot ahead of the visit of Stoke City this weekend.

The same side will provide the opposition when the Black Cats enter the FA Cup at the third round stage next month after the draw took place.