Sunderland 3 Fleetwood 1: Story of the night as Luke O'Nien and Jack Clarke goals give Cats vital win

Sunderland came from behind to win 3-1 against Fleetwood and move back into the League One play-off places.
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Fleetwood went ahead in the first half when striker Ellis Harrison beat Anthony Patterson with a low finish.

That prompted Sunderland boss Alex Neil to make a double substitution at half-time, as Jermain Defoe and Lynden Gooch were brought on.

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Second-half goals from Elliot Embleton, substitute Luke O’Nien and Jack Clarke then gave the Black Cats a vital three points.

Jack Clarke.Jack Clarke.
Jack Clarke.

Fleetwood defender was then sent off for a foul on Ross Stewart three minutes from time.

Here’s how the game played out:

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RECAP: Sunderland 3 (Embleton, 55) (O’Nien, 82) (Clarke, 90+1) Fleetwood 1 (Harrison, 28)

Key Events

  • Sunderland XI: Patterson, Winchester, Wright, Xhemajli (Defoe, 45), Cirkin, Evans (Gooch, 45), Matete, Embleton, Clarke, Roberts (O’Nien, 71), Stewart
  • Subs: Hoffmann, Doyle, Hume, Neil, Gooch, O’Nien, Defoe
  • Fleetwood XI: Cairns, Andrew, Jules, Harrison (G.Garner, 42), Morris (Thiam, 71), C.Johnson, Baggley (Hayes, 51), Lane, Nsiala, Boyle, Johnston
  • Subs: O'Hara, Donaghy, Butterworth, G.Garner, Thiam, Hayes, Bird

68’ Another Patterson save

Sunderland haven’t really kicked on since the goal, with Fleetwood still causing problems.

Hayes managed to shrug Gooch off the ball too easily on the left there before his low cross found Garner whose low effort in the box was saved.

That was close.

Matete gave a free-kick away on the edge of the box and Andrew’s curling effort was heading for the top corner.

Patterson got across his goal well to keep it out.

Fleetwood have reacted well to Sunderland’s goal.

55’ GOAAAAAALLLLLL!!!! EMBLETON!!!

Sunderland are level and the crowd finally have something to shout about.

Clarke did well to beat his man on the left and force a save from Cairns at a tight angle.

Embleton reacted first to bundle the ball home.

1-1!

51’ More time wasting from Fleetwood

Now Baggley has gone down.

Stewart picked the Fleetwood midfielder up before Baggley went to ground again.

The Fleetwood player has now been replaced by Cian Hayes.

Sunderland have switched to a back three of Winchester, Wright and Winchester, with Gooch and Clarke as the wing-backs.

It looks like a 3-4-2-1 system with Roberts and Defoe supporting Stewart.

Double change for Sunderland

Xhemajli and Evans have gone off.

First-half thoughts from the Stadium of Light

Half-Time: Sunderland 0 Fleetwood 1

Sunderland are booed off at half-time.