Ross Stewart scored an injury time equaliser as Sunderland came from behind to draw 1-1 with Burton Albion on Tuesday evening at the SOL. However, the result paled in insignificance to the worrying scenes early in the first half where a medical emergency saw a lengthy stoppage to the game as a Sunderland supporter received treatment in the West Stand. Everyone’s thoughts and prayers are with the supporter and hopefully they will make a full recovery.
Alex Neil made two changes to the side that lost at the weekend against MK Dons with Jermaine Defoe making his first start since re-joining the club in January, He was joined in the starting eleven by Lynden Gooch returning from injury with Leon Dajaku and Dan Neil both dropping to the bench.
The lads got the game underway kicking towards the Roker End and there was almost an early chance for Defoe when Carl Winchester knocked the ball into the box towards Ross Stewart. Stewart got up well and tried to nod the ball into the path of Defoe, but it was just too far in front of him, and the visitors cleared.
A minute or so later despite the best efforts of the ref to block his run Matete saw a low left footed strike held by the keeper. A few minutes after this there was a lengthy break in play due to a medical emergency in the West Stand with a supporter needing treatment. The players stayed on the pitch and tried to keep warm before the ref eventually waved them down the tunnel. The supporter was then taken away by the emergency services to applause from all around the SOL. Everyone at ALS sends their best wishes to the fan and hope they make a full recovery.
The players came back on the pitch for a ten-minute warm up before the game restarted with a Burton goal kick. We were the brighter side following the restart with Stewart and Pritchard both testing the keeper with low efforts from outside the box.
Just after the 20-minute mark Sunderland fashioned their best effort of the game so far when Gooch got in behind his defender down the right-hand side. He poked a cross to the front post for Ross Stewart who saw the keeper tip his effort round the post. The resulting corner was turned behind for another set piece with Pritchard stood up to the back post, but Doyle nodded wide. A few minutes later Pritchard had another strike from outside the box after being found centrally by Winchester, but he dragged his left footed effort wide.
Just after the half hour the visitors had their first efforts of the game and probably should have taken the lead. A long throw into the box wasn’t dealt with by Sunderland allowing Oumar Niasse space unmarked inside the six-yard box but Anthony Patterson did well to block his shot. The loose ball fell kindly for Jonny Smith but Corry Evans did well to block his shot on the line.
There was another let off for Sunderland a few minutes later when Smith broke down the right and into the box, but he took a poor touch allowing Patterson to gather. Ross Stewart and Jermaine Defoe then combined with Stewart finding Defoe with a headed pass. Defoe controlled the ball well and moved towards goal, but his left footed shot was way off target.
Five minutes before half time Carl Winchester picked up a yellow card for a foul on Borthwick-Johnson. Burton fired a left footed in swinger into the box from just inside our half from the resulting free kick, but Sunderland cleared it. There was ten minutes added time and during this one of the Sunderland coaches picked up a yellow card for dissent with the fourth official. We forced a corner before the break after a cross from Matete was deflected behind. Pritchard curled it in from the right and there were shouts for a penalty for handball from a Burton defender, but the ref waved it away before bringing the goalless half to an end.
Neither side made a change at the break before the visitors got the second half underway.
Sunderland almost fashioned an opening three minutes into the restart when Matete slipped the ball into Pritchard in the box. However, the ball go stuck under his feet before being played out wide to Cirkin who overhit a cross to the back post.
Burton took the lead after 53 minutes through Borthwick-Jackson after some slack defending from Sunderland. Matete lost the ball in midfield before the ball was slid in behind Sunderland’s defence by Jonny Smith into the path of Borthwick-Jackson. He struck a powerful low left footed shot into the bottom right-hand corner past Anthony Patterson who possibly could have done better.
Sunderland tried to respond with Carl Winchester taking aim from outside the box, but his powerfully struck shot was saved by the keeper. With half an hour left to play Alex Neil made his first change of the evening with Elliot Embleton replacing Corry Evans.
Embleton had an early chance when Defoe picked the ball up midway inside the Burton half before playing the ball into Ross Stewart. Stewart laid the ball out to the right for Embleton who couldn’t find the target firing way over with his left foot. Five minutes later Carl Winchester did well to set a Sunderland attack a way with a good interception and ball into Jermaine Defoe. Defoe drove to the by-line and stood a decent cross up into the box, but Sunderland couldn’t get anyone on the end of it.
Alex Neil then made his second change of the game with Jermaine Defoe replaced by Jack Clarke for the final 20 minutes of the game. Burton should have doubled their lead with just over 15 minutes left on the clock after being gifted another gilt-edge chance by Sunderland. The lads had been attacking but were hit on the counter before a slip by Doyle allowed Saydee a clear run-on goal. However, Anthony Patterson did well to come off his line and make himself big and save his shot.
Dan Neil then replaced Lynden Gooch as Alex Neil tried to rescue something from the game with his final change of the evening. Jack Clarke was lively when he came on and after 81 minutes created space for himself on the edge of the box, but his shot was saved by the keeper.
In the last minute of normal time Carl Winchester went close to a spectacular equaliser after twisting and turning on the edge of the box but his shot was tipped over and Burton cleared the corner. There was five minutes added time at the end of the game and Sunderland drew level midway through this.
Jack Clarke saw a cross blocked, but it fell to Alex Pritchard who crossed to the back post where Ross Stewart thumped a header past the keeper into the bottom corner. However Sunderland couldn’t muster anything else with the time remaining and had to settle for a point.
Final Score: Sunderland 1 Burton Albion 1
ALS Man of the Match: Carl Winchester
