The story of the day as Sunderland top League One after Carl Winchester and Dan Neil fire against Accrington Stanley

Sunderland defeated Accrington Stanley at the Stadium of Light.Sunderland defeated Accrington Stanley at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland defeated Accrington Stanley at the Stadium of Light.
It is a top-of-the-table clash in League One this afternoon.

Sunderland take on Accrington Stanley at the top of the third tier this afternoon.

The pair are currently one and two in the division with just goal difference separating second place Stanley from the Wearsiders in top spot.

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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.

“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

Gooch comes off and Pritchard enters the fray. 21 mins to go at the Stadium of Light.

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!

Just wide of the post from the Irishman. Brilliant counter attack by Sunderland.

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.

Verdict from Phil Smith on the goal

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!