Lacklustre Sunderland left it late to beat bottom of the league Crewe Alexandra 2 – 0 at the at the SOL on Saturday. Strikes from Dan Neil and Patrick Roberts were enough to spare the lads’ blushes against the strugglers and seal a vital three points for Alex Neil's side who remain fifth in the league.
Alex Neil made three changes to the side that beat Fleetwood on Tuesday with Defoe, O’Nien and Gooch replacing Xhemajli, Roberts and Embleton. Sunderland lined up in their blue and yellow away kit in support of Ukraine with the club planning to auction off the shirts to donate the proceeds to the humanitarian appeal.
The visitors got the game underway kicking towards the North Stand but chances were limited in the opening five minutes after a cagey opening from both sides – the highlight was a crunching tackle by Carl Winchester. Meanwhile Crewe set a new record for the first away team at the SOL to start time-wasting by stopping the flow of the game at every opportunity.
After 15 minutes Jermaine Defoe should have been through on goal after beating the offside trap to latch onto a ball over the top by Wright. However he took a heavy touch with his head and the ball got away from him and the ref waved away his protests for a foul after the Crewe defender appeared to drag him down.
Just before the 20 minute mark Sunderland had a chance when Clarke picked out Stewart at the front post from a corner. Stewart did well to get on the end of it and clip a volley goalwards but there was too many bodies in front of it and the visitors cleared. Five minutes later Bailey Wright had a header on target from a set piece played into the box but the keeper held it.
On the half hour Lynden Gooch picked up a yellow card on the half way line for a rash tackle having lost possession. Five minutes before half time Sunderland won a corner in the right after good work from O’Nien. Jack Clarke swung it in and Stewart Rose highest and got a good header on goal but the keeper held it. The first half ended goalless after another frustrating first half for Sunderland against a stubborn side happy to play for a draw.
There were no changes for either side at the break but the opening stages of the second half started in the same fashion as the first half ended. Sunderland’s inept start to the second half prompted Alex Neil into a double change after ten minutes of the restart with Dan Neil and Leon Dajaku replacing Luke O’Nien and Lynden Gooch. A couple of minutes later they were followed onto the pitch by Patrick Roberts who replaced Jermaine Defoe.
With 25 minutes remaining Sunderland got away with one after some hapless defending from Sunderland presented Crewe with a chance. Long was in on goal behind the Sunderland defence but he wasted the gilt edge opportunity blazing wide. A minute later the visitors had another effort from the edge of the box by Long but Patterson held his effort. Sunderland then picked up another couple of bookings in quick succession with both Wright and Cirkin cautioned for fouls.
Having time wasted at every opportunity it was refreshing to see the ref book the Crewe keeper and he awarded Sunderland a free kick on the edge of the box for holding on to the ball far too long. However Jack Clarke’s shot was tipped away by the keeper.
With ten left on the clock Dan Neil teed up Corry Evans on the edge of the box but the keeper tipped away his effort. Sunderland eventually took the lead five minutes from time when Stewart set up Neil on the edge of the box. He finished by superbly clipping the ball at the keeper into the corner of the net with a stunning strike.
Sunderland eventually started to play with a bit of tempo and swagger and Neil set up Roberts a couple of minutes later but he blazed over. Roberts would make no much mistake two minutes later when he was played in on goal by Clarke sealing the points for Sunderland drilling a low left footed effort past the keeper into the bottom corner of the net.
There was six minutes added time after all the time wasting antics of the visitors which the lads saw out though Jack Clarke picked up a yellow card for diving.
Final Score: Sunderland 2 Crewe Alexandra 0
ALS Man of the Match: Dan Neil
