Sunderland 5 Cambridge United 1: Story of the day after Ross Stewart brace plus Elliot Embleton, Nathan Broadhead and Danny Batth goals

Sunderland thrashed Cambridge United 5-1 at the Stadium of Light to bolster their play-off hopes.
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The Black Cats took an early lead when Ross Stewart was brought down by U’s defender Lloyd Jones, who was subsequently sent off.

Stewart then converted from the penalty spot before Elliot Embleton doubled the hosts’ advantage with a free-kick.

Cambridge pulled a goal back through Paul Digby, before Stewart added his second, while Nathan Broadhead and Danny Batth also got on the scoresheet.

Here’s how the game played out:

RECAP: Sunderland 5 (Stewart, 13, 36) (Embleton, 29) (Broadhead, 53) (Batth, 72) Cambridge 1 (Digby, 31)

Key Events

  • Sunderland XI: Patterson, Winchester (Doyle, 10), Wright, Batth, Gooch, Evans (Neil, 67), O’Nien, Roberts, Embleton, Broadhead (Pritchard, 59), Stewart
  • Subs: Hoffmann, Doyle, Hume, Neil, Clarke, Matete, Pritchard
  • Cambridge XI: Mitov, Williams, Okedina, Jones, Iredale, Digby, May, Brophy, Smith (Bennett, 45), Knibbs (O’Neil, 63), Ironside
  • Subs: Mannion, Bennett, O’Neil, Tracey, Lankester, Worman, Hoolahan

That was almost an excellent move after Embleton and O’Nien combined in midfield before the ball was worked to Gooch on the right.

The latter’s cross was just overhit.

67’ SUBSTITUTION: ON: Neil - OFF: Evans

Final change for the hosts.

66’ A warning sign

Sunderland are comfortable here but Neil won’t want them to get complacent.

Cambridge almost pulled a goal back there as Okendina fired over the bar from a corner.

63’ SUBSTITUTION: ON: O’Neil - OFF: Knibbs

Second change for the visitors.

59’ SUBSTITUTION: ON - Pritchard - OFF: Broadhead

Alex Pritchard is back and recieves a warm reception from the home fans.

Broadhead makes way.

53’ GOOOOOAAAALLLL!!! BROADHEAD!!!

Broadhead gets his goal!

It came after another Gooch cross from the right which allowed the striker to head home.

Broadhead went straight over to Gooch to thank him.

Cambridge made a rare break forward there but Patterson was able to catch May’s corner.

Gooch then played an excellent pass over the visitors’ defence for Stewart who was stopped by Iredale

48’ More Sunderland pressure

Sunderland have picked up where they left off at the end of the first half.

Evans’ ball forward was flicked on by Broadhead into Stewart’s path but the striker was stopped by a fine sliding tackle from Williams.

First change for Cambridge as Bennett replaces Smith.