Sunderland’s already faint automatic promotion hopes suffered another blow as Lee Johnson’s side lost for the third time in a week going down 1 – 0 at Blackpool. Luke Garbutt’s second half strike was enough to seal the points for Blackpool at Bloomfield Road and seemingly consign the lads to another playoff campaign.
Lee Johnson made three changes to the side that lost at Wigan on Tuesday with Callum McFadzean, Aiden O’Brien and Grant Leadbitter replacing Denver Hume, Dion Sanderson, and Jack Diamond. Former Sunderland midfielder Ethan Robson was named on the bench for the inform hosts.
Blackpool got the game underway and won an early free kick after Luke O’Nien was adjudged to have fouled Ellis Simms. O’Nien looked to be struggling after the challenge taking a while to get back to his feet which will have been a concern for Lee Johnson given the amount of defensive injuries. The free kick was poor and cleared easily by Sunderland which was pleasing considering the way Sunderland defended set pieces on Tuesday.
The home side forced a corner after a dangerous cross from the right was well defended by Luke O’Nien who headed over his own bar denying Simms a tap in. The corner from Luke Garbutt was clipped into the front post and easily cleared by Sunderland.
After 15 minutes Grant Leadbitter tried an audacious attempt after spotting the keeper off his line shooting from just inside the Blackpool half. However, the keeper was able to back peddle and catch the midfielders shot. Calum McFadzean was then booked for a needless foul on Kaikai before Garbutt drove the resulting free kick towards goal, but Sunderland cleared.
Jordan Jones almost got in on goal just after the 20 minute mark after a neat turn and ball forward by Aiden McGeady. However, Jones’ first touch was heavy after running in behind his marker and the keeper was able to gather the ball. The hosts then created the best chance of the game with Simms played through on goal with Sunderland’s defence caught static but Simms blazed over the bar.
On the half hour Sunderland produced their best passage of play of the game so far stringing several passes together before eventually working the ball to Jordan Jones on the right flank. Jones whipped a decent ball into the front post towards Charlie Wyke who stabbed an effort goalward under pressure, but the keeper was able to gather whilst Wyke needed treatment.
Five minutes later Sunderland forced a corner after a teasing ball by Aiden McGeady across the six-yard box was turned behind with Jones waiting to pounce at the back post. Sunderland wasted the corner cheaply conceding possession forcing Grant Leadbitter into a cynical challenge on Mitchell to stop a counterattack which saw Leadbitter booked.
Before the break Jordan Jones wanted a penalty after he went down in the box under a challenge by Gretarsson but the ref was having none of his hopeful appeals. There was two minutes of injury time, but the half ended goalless with neither side able to make a breakthrough.
Neither side made any changes at half time and Sunderland almost got through on goal five minutes after the restart with Aiden O’Brien looking to latch onto Josh Scowen’s pass but the keeper was quickly out to grab the ball just inside his box. Sunderland then forced a corner after Jordan Jones’ cross from the right was put behind. The corner was cleared, and Blackpool broke with pace almost catching Sunderland out on the break, but the move broke down with a cross from the left overhit.
Sunderland went close to opening the scoring ten minutes into the second half after Charlie Wyke fed the ball to Aiden McGeady on the left wing. McGeady drove into the box and after a couple of stepovers clipped a shot past the keeper but was denied by the post. Typically, the hosts went straight down the other and opened the scoring after some poor defending and goalkeeping gifted Blackpool the lead.
A long ball forward by the Blackpool keeper was touched backwards by Grant Leadbitter which put Sunderland under pressure. Sullay Kaikai picked up the loose ball and played it to Luke Garbutt on the angle of the box who drove a low shot towards goal which squirmed under Lee Burge and into the back of the net. Sunderland tried to respond immediately and forced a corner which Jones took and found McGeady but the keeper held his volleyed effort.
With half an hour remaining Callum McFadzean should have been sent off after he fouled Mitchell just outside the box but despite awarding the free kick the referee decided against showing McFadzean a second yellow card. Lee Johnson immediately replaced McFadzean with Denver Hume before McFadzean was given his marching orders.
Charlie Wyke did well to manage shot on goal after bringing Grant Leadbitter’s pass down on his chest on the edge of the box. Wyke volleyed goalward but it was straight down the middle of the goal and easy for the keeper. With 20 minutes remaining Sunderland almost equalised after a scramble in the box following Jones’ cross from the right but Luke O’Nien’s shot was cleared off the line.
Lee Johnson then made a couple of changes with Ross Stewart and Jack Diamond replacing Aiden O’Brien and Jordan Jones. However, it was Blackpool who threatened next with Lee Burge forced to parry a shot away from Mitchell who had cut in from the right wing.
At the other end Josh Scowen went close after he fired a lay off from Ross Stewart towards goal, but the keeper did well to turn it round the post. Grant Leadbitter swung the corner into the box which evaded everyone before Ross Stewart picked it up at the back post. He then found Max Power who played a clever reverse ball back into the box for Luke O’Nien, but his shot was saved by the keeper and the flag was up anyway.
With Ross Stewart on the pitch Sunderland went more direct in search of an equaliser and late on Stewart did well to tee up Scowen on the edge of the box. Scowen made a decent connection with his shot but it was always rising and ended up well over the bar.
There was seven minutes added time for Sunderland to try and rescue the game following a few breaks in play for injuries and all the substitutions. In injury time Lee Johnson made his fourth change of the game with Lynden Gooch replacing Josh Scowen but despite all the additional time Sunderland couldn’t muster an equaliser.
Final Score: Blackpool 1 Sunderland 0
ALS Man of the Match: Aiden McGeady
