Sunderland drew 1-1 yet again as the lads recovered from being 1-0 down away at Ipswich thanks to another Lynden Gooch goal.
For large periods of the match Sunderland were as poor as you could imagine, Luke Garbutt scored the opening goal for the hosts which was thoroughly deserved. Gooch scored the leveller midway the second as the points were shared.
Sunderland made their first away trip of the season and made the long journey to Suffolk to face Ipswich as the lads faced last years relegated side.
Jack Ross made two changes to the team which drew against Oxford Aiden McGeady replaced out of form Will Grigg and Elliot Embleton was replaced by Luke O’Nien.
The last time the lads travelled to Portman Road it was a nightmare as the Tractor Boys came out 5-2 winners.
Ipswich came out 1-0 winners in their first game of the season with a Luke Garbutt goal against Burton Albion and were looking to make it back to back victories in League One.
The first action of the half was for the hosts as Kayden Jackson was looking for a penalty, but the referee gave a yellow card to the forward for throwing himself to the ground.
With their first real effort on goal, Ipswich took the lead, Sunderland were caught napping as the ball fell kindly for Garbutt who from an incredibly tight angle hit it through the legs of Jon McLaughlin to give the hosts the lead.
Ross’ men had absolutely no rhythm to their play and looked all at sea, all the play was in the Sunderland territory as they looked to get a second goal.
The Blues were on top and could have scored a second as James Norwood connected with a volley, but it sailed wide of McLaughlin’s post.
Ipswich looked stronger, quicker, well-drilled and more organised. Sunderland, however, looked like they had no game plan and no hope of getting back into the game.
In a bid to get back into the game Ross ditched the three at the back and moved wing back O’Nien into a more advanced midfield role.
Ipswich came close to a second as Garbutt’s shot was deflected and needed saving by McLaughlin who parried away the effort.
Sunderland’s first effort came through Lynden Gooch – from a short corner, the American cut inside only to see his shot curl well wide of the goal. That was about as good as it had gotten for the lads which just about summed the first half up for Ross’ side.
The lads hadn’t woken up yet, defensively they were all over the place and it was painful to watch at times.
The number of long balls going up to Marc McNulty was embarrassing, you get taught in youth football to keep the ball on the floor and play, yet the Sunderland players seemed to have no clue.
After a shockingly poor opening 45, it was a big test of what Ross could do with his team to get them playing in the second period because whatever he’s said pre-match hadn’t worked.
Chris Maguire came on at half time for Denver Hume as Connor McLaughlin moved to left-back and O’Nien back to right back.
Sunderland were having more of the ball in the opening ten minutes of the second half but were doing nothing with it. Everything was rushed and the hosts seemed content to let Sunderland come on to them.
Sunderland finally put some good play together as George Dobson brilliantly played it though to McNulty, but the flag was raised as the striker was about to shoot.
Out of absolutely nothing, Sunderland levelled the scoring - McNulty did brilliantly to chase down the ball and out muscle Luke Chambers on the by-line, the loanee laid it on a plate for Gooch to score his second in as many games.
Ipswich had responded well and looked to get back on top - from a corner, McLaughlin spilt the ball in it dropped to Norwood who saw his effort blocked.
After looking doomed Sunderland had a great chance to get a second as Gooch’s shot/cross dropped to substitute Grigg, but his first touch let him down as Tomas Holy gathered up the loose ball.
Sunderland were playing a lot better and Grigg played a great ball down the left to McLaughlin but his cross to McNulty was poor and a wasted opportunity.
In the last ten minutes, there was something left in this game and an opportunity for one of the two sides to get a winner.
The lads were trying to get one more chance as Maguire was heavily involved with the play down the left-hand side, but it wasn’t to be.
Full Time: Ipswich Town 1-1 Sunderland
ALS Man of the Match: Marc McNulty
