Ipswich Town 5-2 Sunderland: Player ratings as relegation fears deepen at Portman Road

Here's how the Black Cats rated...

JASON STEELE

Was unlucky with the fourth goal after a fine initial stop. Given no protection after replacing Ruiter. 4

BILLY JONES

Scored Sunderland's equaliser with a good header at the front post and was physically combative, but unable to stem the tide. 4

LAMINE KONE

Looked all at sea, regularly losing his man in the box. Completely exposed by Martyn Waghorn, who buzzed around Sunderland's weak spots all night. 3

MARC WILSON (O'Shea, 49)

Struggled all evening at the heart of a defence that inspired little confidence. Broke down early in the second half with an injury. 3

ADAM MATTHEWS

Goal-line clearance kept Sunderland in the game, briefly, before half-time but like the rest of the defence looked so vulnerable to Ipswich's long passing and runners from midfield. 5

DARRON GIBSON

Recalled to the side in place of Didier Ndong but made no impact on the game. Sunderland again looked physically and technically poorer than their less illustrious opponents. Gibson was beaten far too easily in build-up to the fifth. 3

LEE CATTERMOLE

Nearly brought his side level just after half-time but this was another game where Sunderland's engine room looked weaker than their opponents. 4

BRYAN OVIEDO (Gooch, 56)

Never looked comfortable on the left wing, seemingly unsure of what position he should take up. No real attacking threat. 4

AIDEN McGEADY

Moments of real individual quality, none more so than his outstanding goal to make it 4-2. Guilty, though, of losing possession or holding on too long elsewhere. 5

CALLUM McMANAMAN (Honeyman, 66)

Sunderland's best attacking player and caused trouble throughout. Missed a big opportunity to make it 2-2 just before half-time. 6

JAMES VAUGHAN

First touch wasn't quite there and generally marshaled comfortably by Luke Chambers. 5

Subs

JOHN O'SHEA

Replaced Wilson but couldn't bring stability to the side. 5

LYNDEN GOOCH

Unable to make any impact. 5

GEORGE HONEYMAN

Busy on the right wing but with no end product. 5

Unused: Ndong, Browning, Asoro, Ruiter

Ipswich Town XI: Bialkowski; Iorfa, Spence, Chambers, Knudsen; Celina (Nydam, 75) , Skuse, Adeyemi, Waghorn (Ward, 75); Garner, McGoldrick (Sears, 89)

Unused: Subs: Crowe, Connolly, Bru, Kenlock