Sunderland 0 Middlesbrough 4: Highlights after Dan Neil red card as Sam Greenwood scores for visitors
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Sunderland were beaten 4-0 by Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light in the Championship.
After an even first half, Black Cats midfielder Dan Neil was shown a second yellow card for dissent as the hosts were reduced to 10 men.
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Hide AdMiddlesbrough then took full control after their interval as Sam Greenwood and Matt Crooks both scored in the space of three m inutes.
The visitors then added a third when Isaiah Jones broke down the right and converted with a calm finish, before a last-minute goal from Marcus Forss.
Here’s how the game played out:
RECAP: Sunderland 0 Middlesbrough 4 (Greenwood, 58) (Crooks, 60) (Jones, 72) (Forss, 90)
Key Events
- Sunderland XI: Patterson, Huggins, Ballard, O’Nien, Hume, Neil, Bellingham, Ba, Roberts, Clarke, Burstow
- Subs: Bishop, Seelt, Triantis, Rigg, Aouchiche, Bennette, Taylor, Rusyn, Hemir
- Middlesbrough XI: Dieng, van den Berg, McNair, Fry, Engel, Barlaser, Hackney, Jones, Greenwood, Crooks, Coburn
- Subs: Glover, Smith, Bangura, Lenihan, Howson, Silvera, Rogers, Forss, Latte Lath
What to make of those sides
As expected Sunderland are unchanged following Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Watford, with Alex Pritchard still out with a calf issue.
Middlesbrough have made two changes following their 2-0 win over Cardiff last time out, with top scorer Riley McGree missing out with an injury.
Defender Rav van den Berg has recovered from a hamstring issue, while Matt Crooks also returns to the starting XI.
Boro captain Jonny Howson is back on the bench after missing the Cardiff match with an illness.
A late change for Middlesbrough
Boro have made a late change to their starting XI with Tommy Smith replacing Rav van den Berg who has picked up an injury in the warm-up.
2’ How Sunderland have started
Hume has gone back to right-back with Huggins moving to left-back after they switched flanks on Wednesday night.
Ba has started in the No 10 position with Roberts on the right.
5’ Middlesbrough trying to play out
Boro haven’t come here to sit back and defend.
They are switching to a back three in possession and looking to play out from the back.
8’ Middlesbrough seeing more of the ball
Boro have seen more of the ball so far, with Sunderland dropping into a 4-4-2 system out of possession, with Ba pressing alongside Burstow.
The visitors are taking risks when playing out from the back though, with Ba intercepting a pass near Boro’s goal there.
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