Sunderland ended a seven-game winless run with a 3-1 win against ten-man Plymouth and secured a League One playoff place.
The lads took the lead through Ross Stewart on his first start for the club putting the lads ahead at the break. Plymouth levelled through Joe Edwards on the hour mark, but a Maguire penalty secured regained the lead and made sure of the win with a late Denver Hume strike.
Lee Johnson made four changes to the side that lost to Blackpool with Jack Diamond, Ross Stewart, Jordan Jones and Conor McLaughlin in for Charlie Wyke, Aiden McGeady, Grant Leadbitter and Aiden O’Brien.
Sunderland were looking to end a baron run of form, in a game against Plymouth who were also on a torrid run of games and without a win in five.
In the early stages, neither team had stamped their authority on the game with the two teams yet to test the keepers.
With the first real chance of the game, Sunderland took the lead; the lads caught the hosts out on the break as Lynden Gooch played a perfect ball up to Stewart was clear on goal and brilliantly slotted it past Michael Cooper.
The home side should have equalised following a mess at the back; the ball in hit off Denver Hume with neither Josh Scowen nor O’Nien in place to clear, and it kindly bounced to Niall Ennis, who fluffed his lines from eight yards.
Sunderland were looking for the second and Gooch fired in an effort from range which was too central but needed a strong save from Cooper to deny the American.
The lads were inches away from doubling the lead; Jordan Jones whipped in a low corner that was dummied by Gooch and met by Max Power whose effort whistled past the post.
At the back, Sunderland weren’t comfortable, the ball found its way to Danny Mayor who was denied by a super save from the League One keeper of the season, Lee Burge.
Sunderland looked good on the break, and Diamond broke clear through the middle of the pitch and found Stewart, who laid it back to Gooch, and clipped the post with an effort from range.
The lads had started the second half the better and should have scored a second; Hume’s ball in was punched clear by Cooper and dropped to Carl Winchester who couldn’t get any power on the header and was easily saved.
Sunderland looked comfortable, but then sat back and dropped deep and the pressure from the hosts was too much as a ball in from Conor Grant was headed home at the back post by Edwards.
Minutes after scoring, Plymouth shot themselves in the foot as Jerome Opoku was sent off for a second yellow.
Maguire with his first touch, came on and hit the bar with a free kick and the ball was cleared off the line brilliantly by Edwards.
Sunderland were pushing for the second and from a Jones corner dropped to Stewart who couldn’t turn it in at the back post.
The lads were getting closer, the ball was played into Stewart who was denied by a great save from Cooper who did brilliantly to get a hand to it.
Sunderland were throwing the gauntlet down to the hosts with a several balls in, but they couldn’t find that final touch.
The pressure was too much for the hosts, and Ryan Law bundled over Gooch, originally on the edge of the box, but after a discussion with the linesman they awarded a penalty; Maguire stepped up and hammered an effort in the corner.
In added time, Sunderland made sure of all three points after some great work from Gooch, who turned his man inside out and fired an effort that was well saved by Cooper but dropped to Hume who couldn’t miss into an empty net.
Full Time: Plymouth 1-3 Sunderland
ALS Man of the Match: Lynden Gooch
Sunderland: Burge; McLaughlin (Winchester 46’) Wright, O’Nien, Hume; Diamond (Maguire 65’), Power, Scowen (Leadbitter 87’), Jones, Gooch; Stewart (O’Brien 87’)
Subs Not Used: Matthews, Younger, McFadzean
