How Sunderland overcame an injury crisis to produce a superb and spirited win at Burton Albion

Sunderland built on a promising week botbh on and off the pitch with a superb display at Burton Albion, individual brilliance from Grant Leadbitter and Lynden Gooch capping an accomplished all-round showing.

There were one or two difficult moments, for sure.

Ryan Broom missed one of most glaring chances you will see shortly after an off-the-ball altercation that saw Josh Earl shown red and just about every other player involved somehwere along the way.

But Sunderland were fully deserving of their win, and it was all the more impressive given the raft of injuries that had forced Johnson to rip up his template and move to a 3-4-3 with players in unfamiliar roles aplenty.

Johnson had hinted at his slight change before the game, and the absence of both Bailey Wright and Callum McFadzean enforced it.

If there was any concern that the switch might leave Sunderland unsettled, then their early strike was perfectly timed in settling any nerves.

The game was only six minutes old when Aiden McGeady stood over a free-kick on the right of the box, spotting an opportunity to cut it back to a central position.

Leadbitter met it first time, his precise effort leaving Garratt with no chance diving low to his left.

Burton's form has improved under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and so it was no surprise that they responded by exerting some pressure through a flurry of set pieces.

The home side were clearly under instruction to extert pressure on Sunderland's makeshift back three, both through early long balls and through an attempted press.

The latter was less intense successful than a visibly frustrated Hasselbaink would have liked, and Johnson would have been buoyed by the constant threat Sunderland posed on the ball.

Time and time again they opened up space with a switch of play, Gooch in particular relishing the freedom to drive into space from the wing-back position.

Only a stunning save from Garratt prevented McGeady making it two from close range.

Gooch's enterprising display got the goal it deserved on the half hour mark, and oustanding left-footed drive smashing in off the underside of the bar.

It was a controlled, composed half from Sunderland; Burge tested only when Jonny Smith cut inside and drove low with five left to play.

A response from the home side was inevitable and the game broke open at the start of the second half.

Smith’s deflected effort was superbly tipped onto the bar by Burge, before an off-the-ball incident between Josh Earl and Aiden O’Brien saw both players booked.

Having already seen yellow early in the contest, Earl saw red.

Burton kept coming, though, and somehow missed from just a yard as Broom followed up another Smith effort that had struck the far post.

Sunderland’s control had slipped and the frustration was evident all over the visiting side.

Power was urging them to get up the pitch and Johnson was suitably concerned to make a triple substitution. The effect was immediate as Sunderland regained their poise.

Wyke struck the post after Jones forced a strong save from Garratt, the move started by a wonderful piece of skill from Carl Winchester in midfield.

When Jones found Wyke with a clever pass moments late, there was no mistake with the first-time finish. Job done.

Sunderland XI: Burge; McLaughlin, Sanderson, O’Nien; Gooch, Leadbitter (Scowen, 65), Power (Maguire, 84), Vokins (Jones, 67); O’Brien, McGeady (Winchester, 67), Wyke (Diamond, 77)

Subs: Matthews, Maguire, Diamond, Neil

Burton Albion XI: Garratt; Brayford, Carter, Bostwick, Earl; Edwards, Clare (Hamer, 62); Smith (Taylor, 82), Broom (Powell, 62) , Parker (Rowe, 62); Akins (Fondop, 70)

Subs: O’Hara, Mancienne

Bookings: Earl, 5 McGeady, 17 O’Nien, 26 Gooch, 38 Clare, 51 O’Brien, 56 Carter, 65 Fondop, 88

Red Card: Earl, 56

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