Reading 0 Sunderland 3: Highlights after Jack Clarke goal, Patrick Roberts double and Ellis Simms injury blow
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The Black Cats were dealt a first-half blow when striker Ellis Simms limped off the pitch with an injury.
Yet two goals from Patrick Roberts in quick succession before the break put the visitors in a commanding position.
Jack Clarke then added a third in the 69th minute as Sunderland recorded their joint biggest win of the season.
Here’s how the game played out:
RECAP: Reading 0 Sunderland 3 (Roberts, 39, 41) (Clarke, 69)
Key Events
- Sunderland XI: Patterson, O’Nien, Batth, Alese, Gooch, Evans (Bennette, 81) , Neil, Clarke, Pritchard (Matete, 73), Roberts (Diallo, 73), Simms (Embleton, 37)
- Subs: Bass, Hume, Matete, Embleton, Bennette, Dajaku, Diallo
- Reading XI: Lumley, Yiadom, Holmes, Hutchinson (Meite, 65) , McIntyre, Hoilett, Loum (Rahman, 45), Fornah, Hendrick, Ince, Joao (Craig, 81)
- Subs: Bouzanis, Guinness-Walker, Rahman, Abrefa, Ehibhatiomhan, Craig, Meite
Mowbray on Reading
Here’s what Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray had to say about tonight’s opponents:
“I think they have done exceptionally well and I don’t think anybody would have thought they would be where they are in the league because of the player they lost in John Swift, who I think is one of the best players in the Championship over the last few years, went to West Brom on a free transfer.
I think Joao is an important player for them. When I first joined Blackburn he was there on loan and is a very talented individual that they lost for a lot of last season, but he’s back fit and scoring goals.
I think Paul Ince has galvanised them and done an extremely good job. They have beaten teams like Stoke and Middlesbrough and found a way to get results.
“It’s a game we believe we can go to Reading and give them problems. We have talked a lot this week about who is going to score the goals and step up with Ross not on the pitch for a few weeks.
“We will see in these games who is going to step up and put the ball in the back of the net.”
How Reading are shaping up
Reading are fourth in the table after eight games and have won four of their last five matches.
To find out more about Paul Ince’s side we caught up with Royals reporter Jonathan Low from Berkshire Live on the latest episode of The Roar Podcast:
Here’s what he said when asked about Reading’s start to the season:
“I think it’s been exceptionally good really.
“I don’t think anyone would have imagined Reading to be in the top half of the table, let alone in the top three places come the middle of September.
“They have been under a transfer embargo and lost a lot of key players over the summer but they have done really well so far this season.They have blown rather hot and cold but predominantly hot.
“Two of their defeats in the league came against Rotherham and Sheffield United (both 4-0). Rotherham was just a disaster from start to finish and they were 4-0 down at half-time, similar at Sheffield United who were just a class apart and it was effectively men against boys.
“To be fair to them in the other games they’ve shown some real sort of resilience, metal and quality overall.”
Read more HERE
Team news
We’ll start with the Sunderland team news.
Top scorer Ross Stewart has been sidelined for at least six weeks with a thigh issue and could be out longer.
Dennis Cirkin is also set to miss tonight’s match, as well as Saturday’s trip to Watford, but should be ready to return after next week’s international break.
Amad Diallo came off the bench against Middlesbrough to make his Sunderland debut, and could make his first start for the club.
Fellow new signings Abdoullah Ba, Edouard Michut and Jewison Bennette have been training this week.
It’s Matchday!
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Sunderland’s Championship match at Reading.
We’ll have all the build-up ahead of the game at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, as well as in-game analysis and post-match reaction.
Stick around and refresh the page for live updates throughout the night.