Lincoln City 0 Sunderland 0 RECAP: Story of the day as Cats are held to a frustrating draw at the LNER Stadium
and live on Freeview channel 276
The Black Cats remain in the League One play-off places after Sheffield Wednesday and Wycombe also dropped points, yet it was an opportunity missed for Alex Neil’s side.
Patrick Roberts impressed for the visitors after he was recalled to the starting XI.
Here’s how the game played out:
A message from the Football Clubs Editor
Our aim is to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative Sunderland AFC coverage 365 days a year .
This depth of coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to, please consider taking out a subscription to our new sports-only package here.
Your support is much appreciated. Richard Mennear, Football Clubs Editor
RECAP: Lincoln 0 Sunderland 0
Key Events
- Sunderland XI: Patterson, Winchester, Wright, Cirkin, Gooch (Doyle, 85), Evans, Neil (Dajaku, 74), Clarke (Defoe, 74) , O’Nien, Roberts, Stewart
- Subs: Hoffmann, Doyle, Hume, Matete, Embleton, Dajaku, Defoe
- Lincoln XI: Wright, Poole, Jackson, Walsh (Whittaker, 65), Norton-Cuffy, McGrandles, Fiorini, Bramall, Maguire, Marquis (Cullen, 80), Hopper
- Subs: Sanders, Whittaker, Sorensen, Bishop, Cullen, House, Scully
15’ Another chance
It’s been all Sunderland so far.
This time Clarke cut in from the left to deliver an in-swinging cross, yet Roberts couldn’t quite stretch far enough at the back post to convert.
12’ Close!
Roberts looks like Sunderland’s best route to goal and almost cut through Lincoln’s defence with another central run there.
Jackson blocked the playmakers’ effort which looped over the bar for a corner.
From the following set-piece Stewart went to ground but the referee awarded a free-kick to Lincoln.
8’ Roberts looking bright
Sunderland have just started to threaten with Roberts looking bright.
The playmaker has already made a couple of runs into the Lincoln box which have drawn defenders towards him.
Sunderland went close there as Cirkin made a run forward from defence, unchallenged before feeding Gooch on the right.
The latter’s cross was headed over by O’Nien.
3’ How Sunderland have started
As expected Sunderland have started with a back three and wing-backs.
Roberts is operating just behind Stewart.
What to make of that side
Alex Neil has made two changes to his side following the 2-0 win over Crewe last time out.
Goalscorers Dan Neil and Patrick Roberts have returned to the starting XI in place of Jay Matete and Jermain Defoe, who have both dropped to the bench.
It’s the first time Matete hasn’t started a match under Neil.
It looks like Sunderland will still line up with a back three and wing-backs to match Lincoln up, with Dennis Cirkin and Carl Winchester in the back line.
Roberts is therefore likely to play in a central position just behind Ross Stewart.
Chris Magurie has been recalled for the hosts and will operate just behind strikers John Marquis and Tom Hopper in a 3-4-1-2 formation.