Shambolic Sunderland extended their winless run to six games after twice throwing away the lead to draw 3-3 with Accrington Stanley at the SOL on Saturday. An early brace from Charlie Wyke saw Sunderland race into a two-goal lead but Sunderland threw it away after a woeful second half performance saw the visitor’s level through Colby Bishop and a Luke O’Nien own goal. The lads looked to have got out of jail five minutes from time when Max Power’s deflected effort found the back of the net, but Accrington equalised immediately through Sean McConville’s free kick.
Lee Johnson made three changes to the side that drew at Hull on Tuesday evening with Denver Hume, Aiden O’Brien and Aiden McGeady replacing Callum McFadzean, Grant Leadbitter and Jordan Jones.
Sunderland must have lost the coin toss as the visitors opted to switch sides before kick off meaning the lads got the game underway kicking towards the North Stand. We immediately went on the attack and forced a corner after Aiden McGeady’s cross from the left was put behind. McGeady’s corner into the six-yard box found Josh Scowen unmarked but his downward header was deflected behind for another corner which the keeper punched clear.
At the other end the Accrington fashioned a chance when Dion Sanderson went past Bailey Wright far too easily, but his left footed effort lacked power and was saved by Lee Burge. The lads took the lead just after the five-minute mark through Charlie Wyke who headed in his 30th goal of the season. Lynden Gooch got the assist after a good cross into the box from the right flank which Wyke firmly nodded past the keeper.
Sunderland doubled their lead five minutes later and yet again it was Charlie Wyke on the scoresheet. Wyke did well to get in front of his marker at the front post and poke Aiden McGeady’s low cross into the back of the net from close range.
There was a break in play after 15 minutes after the referee ran into Aiden O’Brien but after seeking treatment, he was able to continue. The visitors then went close when play resumed through Phillips who hit a dipping volley just wide of the post after Sunderland failed to clear a throw in.
Sunderland went close to a third and Wyke close to a hattrick after Aiden McGeady teased a great cross into the box from the left. However, the outstretched Wyke couldn’t get a touch on it and the visitors cleared. Accrington then went close from a corner when Bishop looped a header towards the top corner, but Lee Burge did well to touch it away.
Sunderland should have extended their lead after 25 minutes after a fantastic pass by Aiden McGeady in the centre of the pitch set Aiden O’Brien away. However, after cutting inside onto his left foot O’Brien scuffed his shot and the keeper gathered the ball easily. A couple of minutes later Sunderland produced another good passage of play which ended in Gooch crossing into the box for McGeady, but his shot was blocked.
Five minutes before the break O’Brien had another chance when he latched onto a ball over the top but his first touch took him wide and the keeper turned his corner round the post. Max Power swung the corner into the box but there was no one on the end of it. Carl Winchester picked up a yellow card before half time when he was penalised for a foul in the centre circle, but the lads went in at the break with their two-goal lead intact.
Neither side made any changes at the break and Charlie Wyke immediately had a chance to get his hattrick and Sunderland’s third, but he didn’t get enough contact with his header from Lynden Gooch’s cross.
The visitors pulled a goal back five minutes after the restart through Colby Bishop after Sunderland’s defence was carved open. Dion Charles played a reverse ball in between Luke O’Nien and Denver Hume for Bishop who slotted the ball past Lee Burge. Accrington continued to be on top for the opening stages of the second half and went close again when McConville was found unmarked at the back post, but he fired into the side netting.
Lee Johnson made an early change to try and regain control of the game replacing Lynden Gooch with Grant Leadbitter. Leadbitter was straight into the thick of the action and picked up a yellow card for a late challenge on Conneely.
Accrington’s pressure eventually told, and they equalised with 20 minutes remaining after a shambolic piece of defending by Sunderland. Accrington had been awarded a free kick in their own half after Charlie Wyke had been penalised for a push. The Accrington keeper launched the ball forward and a miscommunication between Burge and O’Nien saw O’Nien nod the ball into his own goal.
It was no more than Accrington had deserved as they were far the better team and could have taken the lead after McConville’s cross from the left found Smyth at the back post, but he volleyed wide. Lee Johnson then made a double change replacing O’Brien and Winchester with Jones and Diamond.
Diamond had a chance when he raced onto a ball over the top but though he lifted the ball over the keeper his effort was off target. Sunderland retook the lead through Max Power after the lads hit the visitors on an impressive counterattack.
Accrington had won a corner which Sunderland cleared and broke at speed through Jack Diamond. Diamond had options with both Jordan Jones and Max Power breaking their necks to get up and support him with Diamond slipping it to Power who clipped a shot into the back of the net aided by a slight deflection.
The lead didn’t last long though as Accrington equalised instantly from a free kick by Sean McConville. Aiden McGeady had conceded a free kick on the edge of the box which McConville clipped over the wall and into the top corner past Lee Burge.
There was five minutes added time and Sunderland went close to nicking the points, but Aiden McGeady’s shot was cleared off the line after the keeper had spilled a cross. Grant Leadbitter also went close with a long range shot but the keeper tipped it round the post. Lee Johnson threw Ross Stewart on for the set piece with the big striker replacing Aiden McGeady, but it was a poor corner and Sunderland had to settle for a point.
Final Score: Sunderland 3 Accrington Stanley 3 ALS Man of the Match: Charlie Wyke
