Sunderland AFC transfer news LIVE: Fallout from Lincoln City defeat as Lee Johnson issues injury update
and live on Freeview channel 276
After a tepid first half, the game sprung into life in the second period with Jordan Jones and Bailey Wright striking the bar in quick succession.
But Sunderland would be made to rue those missed chances when Tom Hopper put the Imps ahead, with Brennan Johnson then doubling the lead later in the second half.
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Hide AdIt leaves the Black Cats with a major task on their hands at the Stadium of Light on Saturday as they bid to overturn a two-goal deficit in the second leg.
We’ll have all the fallout to the defeat in Lincolnshire throughout the day, plus analysis from the reverse.
And we’ll also be on top of all the big stories from around the Stadium of Light and League One as they break throughout the day.
LIVE: Sunderland AFC transfer news (May 20)
Key Events
- Sunderland fell to defeat in the first leg of their League One play-off semi final at Lincoln City
- Goals from Tom Hopper and Brennan Johnson saw the Black Cats suffer a 2-0 defeat
- Lee Johnson has fresh injury worries over Denver Hume and Conor McLaughlin
Here’s what Michael Appleton made of the first leg
And the Lincoln boss has also revealed how his side are planning on approaching the return fixture at the Stadium of Light.
“We’ll go there and try and win the game,” he said.
“If we go there and try and get a draw, we’ll end up doing what we did for 20 minutes after we took the lead, defending on the edge of our box and allowing them to put balls in the box.
“That definitely won’t be the mindset. We’ll try and be a bit more possession based, like we were in the first half, and try to win the game.”
An interesting take from the Sky Sports pundit...
Burton Albion boss Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink says that Lincoln City’s second goal against Sunderland was somewhat ‘lucky’ to be given – but praised the endeavour of scorer Brennan Johnson.
The former Chelsea striker was speaking as part of Sky Sports’ coverage of the League One play-off semi final, which saw the Imps seal a 2-0 win in the first leg.
Tom Hopper opened the scoring in the second half before Johnson doubled the lead after charging down a Lee Burge kick.
And Hasselbaink suggested that the goal could potentially have been ruled out for handball – but also felt that Sunderland were the architects of their own downfall.
“Flanagan, for me, needs to pass it harder and he needs to block the striker,” he said.
“He [Johnson] is a little bit lucky, if you see the ball hits his arm. If the referee sees it, I think he will give a free-kick.
“But it’s going and finding your own luck and having that desire to want to close the goalkeeper down.
“It’s a really good result for Lincoln.”
Post-match reaction from Sincil Bank
We’ve got plenty of post-match content on the Echo after last night’s disappointing defeat...
Lee Johnson delivered an injury update last night...
McLaughlin missed the game entirely, while Hume was forced off after just ten minutes.
Good morning
And welcome to our live blog.
Last night saw Sunderland suffer defeat in the first leg of their play-off semi final - meaning it’s now an uphill battle for the side to gain promotion.
We’ll have all the fallout to that game, plus the latest news from the Stadium of Light, throughout the day.