Sunderland

Sunderland suffered an early injury blow in their League One game against Cambridge United at the Stadium of Light.

"I've really enjoyed the role to be fair, when the gaffer came in he just said that he felt I could cover the ground well, get up the pitch well, step in [with the ball] and join in the play which he likes. - 1Ex-Everton and Sunderland defender reveals his Stadium of Light regret and love for SAFC Winchester has started every game under Alex Neil and had spoken highly of the Sunderland head coach ahead of the game.

Stewart would score again either side of striker from Elliot Embleton, Nathan Broadhead and Danny Batth as Alex Neil's side extended their unbeaten run to ...

They did go close when a long throw dropped for Okedina on the edge of the six-yard box, but his volley was well over the bar. The intensity dropped somewhat as greater challenges came onto the horizon for Neil’s side, but they continued to threaten and could have added a sixth as Stewart and O’Nien both went close with headers from inside the box. But Sunderland’s response was excellent, Stewart gathering a low cross from Gooch and volleying into the far corner with ten minutes to play before the break.

DENNIS CIRKIN is unlikely to feature in Sunderland's final two games of the regular League One season – but the defender should be available if…

“The only disappointment really is the loss of Winny,” said Neil. “But it’s good to get Callum minutes as well. Dennis is certainly one of those players. “Winny has hurt his groin, but the extent of it, I can’t tell you at the moment,” said Neil. “What I would say about Winny is that he's a robust lad, a hardy boy, so he's not one to come off if there's any chance you can continue.”

Hello and welcome to our live blog coverage of Sunderland vs Cambridge United from the Stadium of Light. Sunderland's goalless draw at Plymouth Argyle ...

Gooch's cross is controlled by Stewart and he fires past Mitov on the turn, with his effort finding the bottom right-hand corner As always, James Hunter is at the ground today to bring you all the latest as it happens. Embleton picks up the ball inside the box on the left, and he curls a right-foot shot just wide of the far post Gooch cross from the right, Broadhead glances his header just wide of the far post Broadhead works space for a shot on the edge of the box, but his low effort goes wide of the right-hand post Gooch delivers a pinpoint cross from the right, and Broadhead is unmarked four yards out to plant a firm header past Mitov

Sunderland thrashed Cambridge United 5-1 at the Stadium of Light – but how did each player fare for Alex Neil's side?

Started in a very unusual role on the left of a back three as a result of Dennis Cirkin’s absence. Claimed set pieces well when required, though that was rare. Little he could do about Digby’s effort as his team-mates switched off, and was otherwise a total bystander.

Sunderland have been handed a huge boost to their team against Cambridge United with Alex Pritchard set to feature in the team.

Supporters will surely be buzzing to see Alex Pritchard back in action as the season draws to a close, and having this fitness boost can only be a positive in the Mackem’s pursuit for a spot in the play-offs. We’ve also got a few bumps and bruises that we need to assess between now and tomorrow.” Neil told the press (via ChronicleLive): “Alex is a lot closer than he had been.

Sunderland gave their play-off hopes a major boost in Sky Bet League One as they thrashed 10-man Cambridge United 5-1 at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland's dominance continued after the break, with a fourth goal arriving eight minutes into the second half. Stewart stepped up to convert the subsequent penalty, and the Black Cats did not look like ceding control from that point onwards. Gooch whipped in a brilliant cross from close to the right touchline, and an unmarked Broadhead was left with the simple task of heading home from close range.

Sunderland climbed back into the play-off spots and up to fourth place as they ran riot against ten-man Cambridge United at the Stadium of Light.

Broadhead glanced a header narrowly wide, and soon afterwards he sent a shot just the wrong side of the post. Sub Alex Pritchard almost added another with a shot from inside the box, but this time Mitov made the save. Embleton saw that Mitov was off his line and curled a right-footed shot over the keeper's head into the top right-hand corner from a seemingly impossible angle. Roberts should have doubled Sunderland's lead midway through the half when he collected the ball just inside the box in a central position, but he hit his shot straight at Mitov and the keeper parried it to safety. But just a couple of minutes later, Sunderland made the breakthrough. Elliot Embleton scored a brilliant free-kick just before the hour, only for Paul Digby to halve the deficit within a minute.

How did the players fare in Sunderland's 5-1 win over Cambridge? SUNDERLAND (3-5-2):. 6 Patterson: Will not have many quieter games in a Sunderland shirt – ...

Stewart would score again either side of striker from Elliot Embleton, Nathan Broadhead and Danny Batth as Alex Neil's side extended their unbeaten run to ...

The intensity dropped somewhat as greater challenges came onto the horizon for Neil’s side, but they continued to threaten and could have added a sixth as Stewart and O’Nien both went close with headers from inside the box. But Sunderland’s response was excellent, Stewart gathering a low cross from Gooch and volleying into the far corner with ten minutes to play before the break. They did go close when a long throw dropped for Okedina on the edge of the six-yard box, but his volley was well over the bar.

Sunderland gave their play-off hopes a major boost in Sky Bet League One as they thrashed 10-man Cambridge United 5-1 at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland's dominance continued after the break, with a fourth goal arriving eight minutes into the second half. Stewart stepped up to convert the subsequent penalty, and the Black Cats did not look like ceding control from that point onwards. Gooch whipped in a brilliant cross from close to the right touchline, and an unmarked Broadhead was left with the simple task of heading home from close range.

Alex Neil said he felt that Sunderland's performance against Cambridge United was the best of his tenure at the club.

We did that aspect of the game really well. “I think it was our best performance since I've been here. We talked about starving them of the ball, keep rotating it, and the chances will come.

Lloyd Jones' early sending off proved costly for Cambridge United in a 5-1 defeat at Sunderland in Sky Bet League One. The turning point in the game at the ...

The hosts’ scoring was completed in the 72nd minute when Alex Pritchard swung over a cross from the left which was met at the back post by Danny Batth, who headed in his first goal for Sunderland. United pulled a goal back in the 30th minute following a slick move down the right. Ten-man Cambridge United suffer on the road at Sunderland in League One

The Black Cats were 5-1 winners against the U's but head coach Alex Neil felt the scoreline could've been greater.

I thought today we, from minute one, took the game away from them and controlled the match, and I thought the lads were great.” “We keep winning and we’re not moving much are we? I know people will say it’s against ten men, but how often have we seen a game with ten men where it becomes really difficult and sticky, and the ten men maybe get a little bit of momentum.

"A mammoth three points, and a massive step towards the play-offs, as we head into a huge final week of the League One season," writes Finlay Anderson, ...

Sunderland continued to turn up the tempo, and the Black Cats dominated. But, only moments later, the three points were sealed. Roberts drew a simple save from goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov, before Embleton curled an effort around the right post. A mammoth three points, and a massive step towards the play-offs, in a huge final week of the League One season. It could have been more. Sunderland were keen to look for the ball over the top of the Cambridge defensive line, and the visitors looked extremely susceptible at the back.

Cambridge United boss Mark Bonner said he felt the decision to send Lloyd Jones off ten minutes into the 5-1 defeat against Sunderland was 'very harsh', ...

“They put us to the sword, and the little moments didn't go for us. I thought that Stewart was outstanding and looked a real threat, these are top players. “It was certainly a challenging moment for us.

The Black Cats took the lead in the 13th minute in this fixture after U's defender Lloyd Jones was sent-off for a challenge on Ross Stewart in the penalty area.

Providing that Sunderland do reach the play-offs later this month, they will need to use their impressive form at the Stadium of Light to their advantage in this competition in order to book a trip to Wembley Stadium. Sunderland will need to use their recent form at the Stadium of Light to their advantage in the play-offs After going eight games without a goal, Stewart ended this particular streak by producing a superb display for Sunderland yesterday as he recorded a WhoScored match rating of 8.84 at the Stadium of Light.

LAST season, a finishing total of 75 points would have got you into the League One play-offs. Two years earlier, which was the previous time the…

Tomorrow, Sunderland host a Rotherham side who desperately need to take at least a point to remain ahead of MK Dons in the battle for an automatic-promotion place. We need to try to win the game on Tuesday, and then we probably need to go and win the game on Saturday as well. Sometimes, you feel as if you’ve done really well, and have done a good job with the lads, and at the moment, I feel like the lads deserve a bit of, ‘Right, that’s us in the play-offs, let’s prep’. But that’s not the case. “We’ve won seven games out of the last ten, and we’ve still got work to do. With two games of the current League One campaign to play, Sunderland currently sit on the 80-point mark. Two years earlier, which was the previous time the regular season had been played to a completion, 74 points would have secured a place in the top six.

Sunderland's win against Cambridge has kept the race for the playoffs in League One very tight.

Gooch has at times been criticised by supporters for his inconsistency, but his performance against Cambridge did not go unnoticed by the fans at the Stadium of ...

Neil said: "It's a good feeling when you're supplying good quality, you're playing well, and your team is on top. Gooch has at times been criticised by supporters for his inconsistency, but his performance against Cambridge did not go unnoticed by the fans at the Stadium of Light. The one thing I will say about Goochy is that he works his socks off every single day.

Cambridge boss Mark Bonner reacts to his side's 5-1 defeat at the Stadium of Light.

"He [Stewart] does extremely well to get his body in front of Lloyd Jones and there is contact with him, but it does feel very harsh that that's a red card. "It was certainly a challenging moment for us. "The turning point is obviously the red card," said Bonner, who later tipped either Sunderland or Sheffield Wednesday to win promotion through the play-offs.

Sunderland's win against Cambridge moved them on to 80 points, but they could need four more to guarantee a top six finish.

The Owls are seventh, one point behind the others, but like Sunderland they also have two games to play. Both Neil and his counterpart Mark Bonner agreed that the penalty was justified, but that the red card was harsh. Dennis Cirkin was absent from the teamsheet, while the consistent Carl Winchester limped off after ten minutes with a groin problem. Ever since his arrival, head coach Alex Neil has insisted that he does not look at the league table, but following the win against Cambridge United he dropped the pretence. Only in 1995 and 2003, when Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City respectively, finished sixth with 81 points, has the bar been set higher. In almost any other season, Sunderland would have already crossed the line.