How it played out as Sunderland are rocked with just seconds to play at Doncaster Rovers
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It looked as if Grant Leadbitter’s magnificent strike would be enough to send the Black Cats within striking distance of the top two, but the visitors were made to pay for not making first-half pressure count.
They had controlled the contest, but saw Darren Moore’s side improve significantly after the break.
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Hide AdNevertheless, it looked as if they had ridden the worst of the storm when they failed to deal with a ball from the left, Okenabirhie scoring the simplest of finishes.
An insipid defeat to MK Dons had raised the pressure on Sunderland and it had not been lost on Phil Parkinson that it was on this ground that he had turned around his flatlining tenure with a superb win.
There was, then, perhaps little surprise that he looked to return to the formula that had sparked that upturn in fortunes.
The Black Cats reverted to 3-4-3, with Lynden Gooch and Chris Maguire back in situ behind Charlie Wyke.
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Hide AdIt had been the pressing of those three that had stood out a year ago, and the opening exhanges were not dissimilar to those a week previous. Like MK Dons, Doncaster were determined to play out from the back in all scenarios. Sunderland were happy to wait for the ball to be played into dangerous areas, looking to force the error and break quickly.
Darren Moore’s side started relatively well, even if most of their possession was well away from the Sunderland goal.
A couple of good crossing opportunities from either flank came to nothing, and Sunderland slowly began to take control of the game.
Their first two openings came when Luke O’Nien headed an accurate free-kick from Josh Scowen over the bar, before Maguire’s effort from distance was easily saved by Joe Lumley minutes later.
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Hide AdLumley had only met up with his team-mates on Friday, signed as an emergency loan goalkeeper.
It had been in this role that he lined up for Gillingham against the Black Cats only three weeks ago.
Sunderland were beginning to dominate, the only criticism being that they were not doing more to test Lumley. They ought to have been given a penalty on the half hour mark, with Gooch moving across the box and beating defender Joe Wright to the ball. Wright brought him down, but the referee inexplicably waved play on.
When Tom Flanagan headed a cross over the bar just minutes later, there would have been frustration that good play was not yielding more.
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Hide AdThe away side were particularly effective down the right, where the pressing of Conor McLaughlin and Josh Scowen was backing up a dangerous O’Nien and Maguire partnership.
Addressing criticism of his side’s attacking play earlier in the week, Parkinson had insisted that the only metric by which they were really falling short was shots on target.
This had been a similar story.
With minutes to go before the break, they finally foudn the target and it was a goal of quite breathtaking quality.
Doncaster would have felt pleased to force Gooch away from the edge of the box, as the talented forward looked to line up a shot. He was forced to go backwards, but his pass was met by a thunderous strike from Leadbitter.
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Hide AdLumley was helpless as the ball arrowed into the top corner from 25 yards.
Doncaster had been increasingly listless as the half developed, and were grateful for the break when it came.
Unsurprisingly, the restart brought an increase in their tempo, not allowing Sunderland as much time on the ball and looking to move it quicker themselves.
They missed a big chance fifty minutes in, Lokilo volleying wide after a cross dropped for him on the edge of the area.
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Hide AdAnother good move created another shooting opportunity as Ben Whiteman broke into space, teeing up Matt Smith who drove an effort narrowly wide.
The game was breaking open, Doncaster threatening but leaving space for the visitors to counter.
Openings were more frequent for the hosts, though, and Okenabirhie ought to have done better when his weak effort from some excellent build-up play was straight at the goalkeeper.
It felt a crucial moment, Sunderland finally then beginning to settle and forge some openings of their own.
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Hide AdGooch twice broke into dangerous areas down the left flank, only to see his efforts blocked by the Doncaster defence as they raced back into position.
Doncaster saw plenty of the ball in the final stages of the game, but Sunderland’s defensive structure was excellent and Matthews was rarely called into action.
They looked to have held on, but it was too easy for Halliday to get into the box, and Okenabirhie could not miss with from a matter of yards out and with the goal gaping.
Sunderland XI: Matthews; McLaughlin, Wright, Flanagan; O’Nien, Leadbitter, Scowen, Hume; Maguire (Embleton, 82), Gooch (Power, 90), Wyke
Subs: Burge, Sanderson, Graham, Diamond, Grigg
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Hide AdDoncaster XI: Lumley; Halliday, Anderson, Wright, John; James (Coppinger, 82), Whiteman; Smith, Lokilo (Richards, 63), Sims; Okenabirhie
Subs: Jones, Amos, Williams, Butler, Ravenhill
Bookings: Lokilo, 38 Wright, 67