Tony Mowbray’s Sunderland turned in a superb performance to sweep aside Rotherham United 3 – 0 at the SOL on Wednesday evening. A brace from Ross Stewart and a sensational solo goal from Jack Clarke were enough to seal Sunderland’s first home win of the season with the lads the better side from the first till last whistle.
After being without a manager for the 1-0 defeat to Norwich City on Saturday lunchtime Tony Mowbray was unveiled as Sunderland’s new boss on Tuesday night. It was a busy time on Wearside with a couple of new arrivals announced before kick off with French youngsters Edouard Michut and Abdoullah Bah signing for the lads whilst Amad Diallo was in the stands ahead of a proposed loan move from Manchester United.
There were no surprises in Mowbray’s starting eleven with the lads remaining unchanged from Saturday and Mowbray got a good ovation after being introduced to the crowd before kick-off. The lads got the game underway kicking towards the Roker End but immediately lost possession with a long ball down the left.
Sunderland had the first effort on goal after two minutes after good work from Jack Clarke down the left. Clarke beat his man on the outside before cutting the ball into the box, but Dan Neil fired way over with his left foot. We had another half chance a couple of minutes later after Dan Neil and Lynden Gooch played a nice one two before the American whipped a great cross into the box. It was half cleared before Jack Clarke clipped a half volley goal wards on the stretch which the keeper gathered.
There was a break in play with Stewart needing treatment after trying to get on the end of Clarke’s shot and ending up with a bloody nose after being flattened by the keeper. At the other end Rotherham had a chance after Gooch slipped and lost possession but Danny Baath made a great challenge to snuff out the attack.
Just before the 15-minute mark Ellis Simms went close from a tight angle curling a powerful shot just off target after latching onto a diagonal ball from Pritchard. A minute or so later Simms turned provider driving forward before playing Ross Stewart in on goal, but the Scot dragged his low shot wide. Sunderland went really close soon after when good work by Gooch down the right set up Ross Stewart, but he was denied a goal when his shot was blocked on the line.
Rotherham did force Anthony Patterson into a save after 20 minutes with Oliver Rathbone stinging his palms with a well struck left footed effort. Five minutes later Wiles forced Patterson into another good save down to his right after Sunderland failed to deal with a cross. Sunderland won a free kick when Dan Neil was fouled just outside the box which saw Peltier booked but Alex Pritchard fired the set piece way over.
Sunderland fashioned another good chance after a nice move saw Pritchard and Gooch combine but Stewart couldn’t finish skewing a left footed effort off target. Stewart had another opportunity not long after when Cirkin did well surging down the left and crossing but Stewart’s header looped over the bar.
There was a half chance for the visitors five minutes before half time when Ferguson crossed from the left, but Washington hit a rash shot over the bar. Then Alex Pritchard almost got in when he nicked possession for Sunderland with the high press, but Pritchard slightly overran the ball meaning it was goalless at the break after two minutes injury time.
Neither side made a change at the break before the visitors restarted the game. Sunderland had the first attempt of the second half when he crossed the ball onto the chest of Simms. Simms turned and shot but got underneath it and blazed over. Sunderland almost took the lead from a set piece five minutes into the second half from the left wing after Clarke was fouled.
Norton-Cuffy was booked for the foul before Pritchard swung the free kick onto the head of Danny Baath who nodded wide. Sunderland did take the lead soon after through Ross Stewart after more good work from Jack Clarke on the left. Clarke skinned his man down the left before delivering a low cross into the path of Stewart who tucked the ball first time with his left foot into the bottom right-hand corner.
Ross Stewart added to Sunderland’s lead ten minutes later and again it was Jack Clarke providing the assist. Clarke skipped away down the left before playing a fantastic ball across the face of the goal with the outside of his right foot which Stewart slammed into the back of the net.
Tony Mowbray then made his first change as Sunderland manager with Alex Pritchard replaced by Patrick Roberts. Jack Clarke then added Sunderland’s third with a tremendous goal capping off a tremendous performance. Clarke picked up the ball on the left touchline before riding a couple of challenges surging into the box before sliding the ball into the bottom right-hand corner. This prompted Rotherham into a triple change.
With ten minutes left Jack Clarke made way for Bailey Wright as the lads looked to see out the victory and clean sheet. A few minutes later Dan Neil was replaced by Elliot Embleton. There was a late half chance for the visitors when a ball over the top of Luke O’Nien, but Anthony Patterson did well to read the danger and get out quick to catch the ball.
There was four minutes added time signalled and in the first of these Ellis Simms raced through on goal, but his shot was blocked. The lads saw out the victory easily to round off their best 90 minutes of the season so far.
Final Score – Sunderland 3 Rotherham United 0
ALS Man of the Match – Jack Clarke
