Rotherham United 5 Sunderland 1: Story of the day after Aiden McGeady red card plus Michael Smith and Freddie Ladapo braces at the New York Stadium

Sunderland endured an afternoon to forget at Rotherham as they were thrashed 5-1 at Rotherham.
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Rotherham opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Michael Smith headed home Freddie Ladapo’s cross.

Sunderland managed to draw level before half-time, though, when Ross Stewart produced a neat finish from inside the area.

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But it was all downhill from there for the visitors, as Freddie Ladapo made it 2-1 before half-time.

Rotherham 5 Sunderland 1Rotherham 5 Sunderland 1
Rotherham 5 Sunderland 1

McGeady was sent off shortly after the interval, before Smith and Ladapo both added another goal each to their names, while defender Michael Ihiekwe also got on the scoresheet.

Sunderland will hope to bounce back when they travel to Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday.

Here’s how the game played out:

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RECAP: Rotherham 5 (Smith, 10, 73) (Ladapo, 41, 89) (Ihiekwe, 53) Sunderland 1 (Stewart, 25)

Key Events

  • Sunderland XI: Hoffmann, Winchester, Flanagan, Doyle, Cirkin, O’Nien (Wright, 45), Neil, McGeady, Embleton (Gooch, 45), Dajaku (Evans, 59), Stewart
  • Subs: Burge, Alves, Wright, Gooch, Wearne, Gooch, O’Brien
  • Rotherham XI: Vickers, Harding, Edmonds-Green, Ihiekwe, Ogbene (Miller, 74), Wiles, Barlaser, Rathbone, Ferguson (Sadlier, 74), Ladapo, Smith (Kayode, 74)
  • Subs: Johansson, Wood, Sadlier, Miller, Bola, Odoffin, Kayode

71’ Gooch cross blocked

A rare attack from Sunderland in the second half after Gooch broke forward on the right but saw his cross blocked.

69’ Sunderland have to be careful

The visitors have given away several free-kicks with late challenges in the second half.

They have to be careful they don’t get any more red cards here.

Sunderland have just been pinned back since the red card.

More frustration as Gooch gives the ball away and Evans brings down Wiles before being shown a yellow card.

59’ Final change for Sunderland

57’ McGeady sent off

Sunderland have lost their discipline.

A poor challenge from McGeady on Ogbene sees the Sunderland man get a second yellow card.

Sunderland are down to ten men.

53’ Goal Rotherham (Ihiekwe)

Straight from the corner.

Ferguson’s in-swinging deliver from the right is headed home by Ihiekwe unmarked.

3-1.

49’ More chances for Rotherham

The hosts have started brightly in the second half.

Ogbene beat Cirkin too easily before setting up Ladapo whose shot was saved by Hoffmann.

Moments later, Barlaser fired an effort just wide.

48’ A change of shape for Sunderland

Sunderland have now switched to a back three and wing-backs.

Gooch is on the right with Cirkin on the left.

Dajaku is supporting Stewart up top.

46’ McGeady booked

Another yellow card for the visitors.