How it played out as Sunderland held to frustrating draw after COVID outbreak overshadows contest

The Black Cats were without eight senior players for the contest, unable to agree a postponement after extensive dialogue with the EFL on Tuesday.

Sunderland went behind to a Joe Pigott penalty, but got back on level terms when Bailey Wright scored a wonderful volley on his left-foot.

An overhauled XI struggled to build momentum thereafter, and in truth it was the visitors who forged the best chances as the game headerd for a conclusion.

Sunderland had come into the contest buoyed by their superb win over Lincoln City, but Johnson’s plans were thrown into disarray by the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Head Coach had alluded at some issues in his pre-match remarks, stating that he would have to be fluid in his selection and may not be able to name his team until hours before kick-off.

So it proved, with eight players ruled out as a result of the outbreak.

One player has had a positive test, with two others displaying symptoms and a further five self-isolating.

With Johnson also managing a number of other injury concerns in his squad, the result was a drastically overhauled matchday squad.

There was plenty of experience in the starting XI, but the bench was made up almost entirely of players who have either been managing knocks, or played a substantial part in Sunderland’s U23 win over Norwich City on Monday afternoon.

Even if the Sunderland XI was significantly reshuffled, the pattern of the game through the opening period was familiar. Having conceded nine goals in their last two games, AFC Wimbledon were unsurprisingly happy to sit in and get bodies behind the ball.

The Black Cats did start brightly, forging a couple of half chances in the opening ten minutes. Jack Diamond sliced an effort from the edge of the area as the hosts began the contest on top, and though Grigg was able to turn the effort towards goal, his connection was poor and easily gathered by the goalkeeper.

Aiden O’Brien was the next to try his luck, an effort from outside the area curling well over the crossbar.

Sunderland were enjoying the vast majority of possession, but were struggling to turn it into clear chances.

Even as the visitors sat deep to frustrate, there was an occasional break to serve warning to Sunderland. Ryan Longman was enjoying the space left behind when Callum McFadzean broke forward, and forced a very good stop from Lee Burge as he broke into the box with twenty minutes played.

Johnson’s side continued to push forward without luck, Trueman saving well when Embleton broke into the box and stuck a firm effort with his left foot. Grigg again had a half chance comfortably saved, his header from an O’Brien cross straight at the goalkeeper.

Wimbledon’s threat was sparse, but with half time just minutes away one of their rare breaks brought reward. Rudoni burst past McFadzean inside the box, the left-back clumsily bringing him to ground as he got set to shoot.

Pigott’s penalty was emphatic, sending Burge the wrong way and his team into the lead.

Sunderland’s task was almost made even steeper before the break, Longman forcing an even stronger block from Burge as he burst towards goal from the right flank once again.

Johnson had seen enough in the first half to convince him that more attacking threat was needed, and so Lynden Gooch was introduced for the first time in the new head coach’s tenure. That in itself spoke to the circumstances of the evening, with the 24-year-old not expected to have played a part in the squad as he returns from a foot problem.

The pattern of the second half was much the same in the opening minutes; Sunderland with all the ball but little threat.

There first effort came after good play from Embleton, but his pass inside was fired over the bar by O’Brien.

When the equaliser came, it was a moment of inspiration from the most unlikely of sources.

Sunderland recycled a set play and Embleton picked a good pass out to the right flank. Diamond picked it up and cut inside, curling a cross to the back post. Wright brought it down on his shoulder and his weaker foot, fired it over the goalkeeper and into the far corner.

The visitors protested furiously, adamant that Wright had fouled his marker to get free, but the referee allowed the goal to stand.

The response from Wimbledon was almost immediate, Longman again getting free inside the box and this time crashing a left-footed effort off the crossbar.

Sunderland’s composure was lacking, and McLoughlin missed a major chance to put the visitors ahead when he snatched at a big chance inside the box.

It was the visitors who continued to create the best chances in the latter stages, with Thomas missing a good chance from close range as the Black Cats struggled to deal with a set piece.

The hosts had most of the possession as the game headed towards a conclusion, but the introduction of Mitchell Curry for his Black Cats debut was unable to help the hosts forge head on what was a frustrating night.

The COVID-19 outbreak that overshadowed it looks set to rumble on in the days ahead.

Sunderland XI: Burge; McLaughlin, Sanderson, Wright, McFadzean (Willis, 80) ; Leadbitter, Dobson (Gooch, 45), Embleton; Diamond, O’Brien, Grigg (Curry, 75)

Subs: Patterson, Neil, Younger, Taylor

AFC Wimbledon XI: Trueman; Thomas, Heneghan, Csoka; McLoughlin, Woodyard, Reilly, Rudoni (Chislett, 87), Seddon; Pigott, Longman

Subs: Tzanev, Nightingale, Alexander, Hartigan, Palmer, Guinness-Walker

Bookings: Reilly, 49 Longman, 70

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