Sunderland 1 Rotherham United 1: Story of the day after Michael Ihiekwe own goal hands Cats a point in League One play-off race
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Rotherham defender Michael Ihiekwe opened the scoring when he headed home a corner in the first half, while Sunderland struggled to create chances in the opening 45 minutes.
Alex Neil made some attacking substitutions in the second half, with Alex Pritchard, Jack Clarke and Elliot Embleton entering the fray.
Yet it took until the 88th minute for the hosts to draw level when Ihiekwe headed Clarke’s cross into his own net.
Here’s how the game played out:
RECAP: Sunderland 1 (Ihiekwe, own goal, 88) Rotherham 1 (Ihiekwe, 17)
Key Events
- Sunderland XI: Patterson, Batth, Wright, Doyle, Hume (Clarke, 60), Evans, Matete (Embleton, 70), Gooch, O’Nien, Broadhead (Pritchard, 53), Stewart
- Subs: Hoffmann, Xhemajli, Neil, Clarke, Roberts, Embleton, Pritchard
- Rotherham XI: Johansson, Edmonds-Green, Wood, Ihiekwe; Harding, Rathbone (Lindsay, 79), Barlaser, Osei-Tutu (Mattock, 76), Wiles, Ogbene, Smith
- Subs: Chapman, Mattock, Bola, Odoffin, Lindsay, Kayode, Kelly.
45’ Stewart cross held
A neat one-two between Stewart and Gooch led to the latter crossing from the left of the box.
Johansson managed to hold the delivery.
43’ More handball appeals
There are more appeals for handball after Gooch’s free-kick from the right hit Wood in the penalty area.
It didn’t look like it was deliberate.
41’ Handball appeals
That was better from Sunderland as Gooch broke down the left and Stewart headed the winger’s cross back across goal.
There were appeals for handball from the home fans against the Rotherham defender but nothing was given.
35’ More Rotherham crosses
Osei-Tutu received two chances to cross the ball there.
The first was headed away by Wright, while the second was sent straight across the box.
34’ 'Keep the ball on the floor’
That’s the message from Alex Neil on the touchline.
His team have been sloppy in possession so far.
