Sunderland were consigned to another season in League One after failing to overturn Lincoln's two goal lead from the first leg play off after only beating the Imps 2-1 at the SOL on Saturday. Lee Johnson’s side put in an improved performance and raced into a two goal first half lead thanks to goals from Ross Stewart and Charlie Wyke.
However, Lincoln pulled a goal back early in the second half through Tom Hopper before Lee Burge saved a penalty to keep Sunderland's hopes alive but despite a raft of chances Sunderland couldn’t find a goal to take it to extra time.
After the debacle on Wednesday evening and with a mammoth task on their hands to overturn a two goal deficit Lee Johnson made four changes to the side. Callum McFadzean, Grant Leadbitter, Chris Maguire and Ross Stewart all returned to the side at the expense of Denver Hume, Tom Flanagan, Max Power and Jordan Jones.
The atmosphere in the ground was electric before the game and got even louder when the teams were read out. Sunderland got the game underway kicking towards the Roker End and immediately went direct with Leadbitter floating the ball down the left hand channel towards Wyke but it went out for a throw in.
Sunderland got away with an early mistake when McFadzean inexplicably gave the ball to Grant on the edge of the box but fortunately he dragged his shot wide of the post. At the other end Aiden McGeady curled a dangerous free kick into the box towards Charlie Wyke but he couldn’t manage a touch on it.
The lads forced a corner after a good move involving Stewart and McGeady ended with Maguire’s cross being blocked. The corner was whipped in at the front post and fell kindly for Josh Scowen but he lashed his shot over the bar.
After having the majority of the play for the opening stages of the game Sunderland deservedly took the lead just before the 15 minute mark through Ross Stewart. Aiden McGeady produced a sublime piece of skill to skin Poole on the left before finding Stewart in the box with his cross who stabbed the ball into the back of the net.
Aiden McGeady wasn’t happy when he thought he should have had a free kick after 20 minutes when he appeared to be clipped after almost getting through on goal but the ref played on. Soon after Sunderland went close when Wyke teed up Stewart on the edge of box but he dragged his shot wide. Charlie Wyke was then guilty of an extraordinary miss after good pressure from Sunderland saw Lincoln forced into a mistake a Wyke a chance one on one with the keeper. However after doing the hard part and rounding the keeper Wyke seemed to dwell on the ball allowing a defender time to get back and block his shot on the line.
On the half hour Sunderland were incensed when Bailey Wright was penalised for what looked like a fair challenge 30 yards from goal. It presented the visitors with a free kick in a dangerous position but fortunately Sunderland cleared through Wright and Leadbitter.
Sunderland doubled their lead and squared the tie after 33 minutes and yet again Aiden McGeady was the architect. He skinned his man on the left and whipped a great cross into the six yard box for Charlie Wyke to atone for his early miss and prod the ball at the keeper into the bottom right hand corner.
The final five minutes of the half were frantic first Bailey Wright did well to block a shot before Lee Johnson’s side were somehow denied a penalty by the officials. Ross Stewart latched onto a diagonal ball and touched it past the keeper just inside the box before being clattered but somehow the ref waved play on. There was ironic cheers a minute later when the ref did award the lads a free kick on the edge of the box when Stewart was fouled. Aiden McGeady went close with his curling effort but the ball was just the wrong side of the post.
There was two minutes added time before the ref brought the first half to a close with the lads leaving the pitch to a rapturous ovation before the refs followed to a chorus of boos. After being battered in the first half the visitors made a couple of changes at the break with Walsh and McGrandles replacing Montsma and Scully.
Lincoln forced a corner early in the second half but Sunderland eventually cleared before Chris Maguire volleyed a Ross Stewart nod down just over the bar. Five minutes into the second half Lincoln forced another corner after McFadzean cut out a cross and the visitors nearly scored when Poole headed Grant’s corner off the bar.
The visitors were having their best spell of their game and pulled a goal back ten minutes after the restart through Tom Hopper. Lincoln won a corner after Wright had put behind a cross from the left and Hopper rose highest to it under little pressure to nod past Burge. Things went from bad to worse five minutes later when the referee awarded Lincoln a penalty after Scowen tripped McGrandles. However Lee Burge redeemed his mistake from Wednesday with a great save beating away Grant’s spot kick.
Lee Johnson then made a double change with Max Power and Jack Diamond replacing Chris Maguire and Callum McFadzean. McFadzean appeared injured with Johnson forced into a reshuffle at the back with Gooch moving from to left back and Power going right back. Grant Leadbitter then picked up a yellow card for a foul on Liam Bridcutt before Sunderland forced a few corners but the keeper was equal to them each time.
With 15 minutes to play Sunderland won a free kick when Scowen was tripped but McGeady’s cross was a fraction to close to the keeper with Stewart waiting to pounce. Lee Johnson then made another double change with Aiden O’Brien and Carl Winchester replacing Ross Stewart and Josh Scowen. It was the visitors who could have sealed the tie however when McGrandles found himself one on one with Lee Burge however he blazed over.
Sunderland almost levelled the tie with ten minutes remaining but McGeady’s shot crashed off the base of the post before Wyke slotted the rebound into the side netting. Five minutes later Sunderland missed another great chance when O’Brien volleyed McGeady's free kick wide of the post on the stretch with the goal gaping. The lads continued to pile on the pressure and O’Brien had another great chance but was denied by a great save by the keeper.
We were almost caught out with a quick free kick with Max Power switching off allowing Rogers clean through but Lee Burge denied him with another great stop. There were only five minutes added time which was a surprise considering the time wasting antics of the visitors but we couldn’t find the elusive goal to take the tie to extra time.
Final Score: Sunderland 2 Lincoln City 1
ALS Man of the Match: Lee Burge
