The story of the day as Sunderland top League One after Carl Winchester and Dan Neil fire against Accrington Stanley
Sunderland take on Accrington Stanley at the top of the third tier this afternoon.
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Hide AdThe pair are currently one and two in the division with just goal difference separating second place Stanley from the Wearsiders in top spot.
And Accrington boss John Coleman is sure to have his team fired up for this one if his pre-match presser is anything to go by.
He said: “One the day, it’s 11 v 11. They might have a nicer stadium, the pitch might be a little bit better, their infrastructure might be better, they might eat better meals than us after training and their players might drive nicer cars but that doesn’t guarantee you more points on a Saturday, it doesn’t guarantee you winning your own individual battles.
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Hide Ad“We will send our players out there with a clear goal of what we want to achieve, a clear way they can do it and let the battle commence.
“We are playing 11 players not a club or a stand or fans, it’s not an insurmountable mission. We have been to the Stadium of Light twice and not lost and on both occasions we have come away a bit deflated we hadn’t won so we will be going there to win.
Here, though, we’ll take you through everything you need to know before, during and after the game… including LIVE updates from the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland 1-1 Accrington Stanley LIVE
Key Events
- Sunderland face Accrington Stanley at the Stadium of Light this afternoon
- Lee Johnson faces a selection dilemma in goal with three first team keepers on the books
- Anthony Patterson, Lee Burge and Ron-Thorben Hoffmann are all in contention to start
75 - Winchester
Carl Winchester wins Sunderland a free-kick following a Cruyff turn but Sunderland can’t get it on target and it’s an Stanley goal kick.
Sunderland look to come again through Pritchard but he can’t control it. Ross Stewart is down with an injury and the game is paused.
71 - Foul on O’Nien
O’Nien is brought down heavily by Accrington Stanley. Calls for a red card by Sunderland fans but it’s just a yellow. Johnson’s men get the ball forwards though.
It comes back down the other end for a Sunderland goal kick.
The home side could do with another goal for some insurance.
68 - Brilliant by Cirkin!
Cirkin denies an almost certain Stanley goal with a header off the line superb stuff. And Sunderland get the corner away and break but the referee blows up!
64 - Embo to take!
Embleton to take the corner. He swings it in. It’s headed away and Stanley clear through Nottingham. Hoffmann lashes the ball back up the field before Stewart finds himself THROUGH on goal. Great work from Trafford to deny him at the last.
63 - Stanley have a free-kick
It’s swung in and met with a header but Hoffman saves diving to his left. Sunderland look to get going again. Gooch has it in the box and wins a corner
60 - Sunderland lead
Half an hour to go. Sunderland lead and are top-of-the-table as things stand. The Roker End are in full voice and the sun is shining. You love to see it.
57 - Stanley pump the ball forward
It’s hot long straight into the arms of Hoffmann. Cirkin gets it Stewart and it comes to Embleton who recovers well. Sunderland still on the attack AND CARL WINCHESTER SOCRES FOR SUNDERLAND 2-1!
53 - Corner
Nottingham gets to the corner again but Sunderland defend well with Hoffmann collecting the ball.
Stanley enjoying some pressure here as Sunderland fail to clear. Gooch eventually hits it Stewart’s way and Sunderland have a break
51 - More Sunderland pressure
Gooch goes down the left and wins a throw-in. All Sunderland at the moment as Accrington clear. Gooch has it again but controls and it’s back to Stanley.
Accy win a corner.
49 - McGeady again!
McGeady again goes down the right and gets a low ball in which is turned away. Another corner to Sunderland.
Embleton with it. Doyle meets it but it’s at the keeper. A bright start for Sunderland. Flanagan is booked and suspended for the next game.
47 - Free-kick to Sunderland
Free-kick to Sunderland comes to nothing as the Black Cats start brightly. McGeady remains on the right, cuts in and forces a save from Trafford. Corner to Sunderland.
The corner comes in from Embleton and it nearly goes straight in. More chances for Sunderland as Winchester shoots.