We simulated Sunderland's clash with Southend United on Football Manager 2020 - here's what happened

It’s another weekend without football for Sunderland - but how COULD the Black Cats have fared had they played their scheduled fixture at Southend United?
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We simulated the trip to Roots Hall on Football Manager 2020 to find out what may have transpired in the League One clash:

TEAM NEWS

Phil Parkinson named an unsurprising side, and stuck with his 3-4-3 formation.

We simulated Sunderland AFC v Southend United on Football Manager 2020 - and here's what happenedWe simulated Sunderland AFC v Southend United on Football Manager 2020 - and here's what happened
We simulated Sunderland AFC v Southend United on Football Manager 2020 - and here's what happened
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Joel Lynch started at the back ahead of Alim Ozturk, while Josh Scowen also earned a place in the line-up.

Kyle Lafferty was given the nod up front, with Charlie Wyke forced to settle for a place on the bench. Will Grigg was in the squad though, taking a place alongside Wyke among the reinforcements.

Sunderland XI: J McLaughlin; Lynch, Flanagan, Willis; O’Nien, Hume, Power, Scowen; Gooch, Maguire, Lafferty

Sunderland subs: Burge, Ozturk, C McLaughlin, Dobson, Semenyo, Grigg, Wyke

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Southend United XI: Oxley; Shaughnessy, White, Lennon; Bwomono, Milligan, S McLaughlin; Manton, Klass; Humphrys, Kelman

MATCH REPORT

In typical Sunderland fashion, there was no shortage of drama in this one.

It all looked to be going swimmingly when Max Power handed the Black Cats the lead - sweeping home from 12 yards after a long throw-in from Denver Hume deceived the home defence.

But the Shrimpers were level before the break. Sunderland switched off from a set piece and allowed Joe Shaughnessy time and space to head home from close range.

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Things would then get worse after the interval when a clumsy challenge from Jordan Willis saw Southend handed a penalty. Jon McLaughlin guessed the right way, but couldn’t keep out Mark Milligan’s powerful spot kick.

As the game entered its final fifteen minutes, Parkinson threw Will Grigg into the mix in a bid to find a leveller.

And his presence caused panic in the Southend defence, which created space for Lafferty to nod home and draw the Black Cats level.

Parity was short-lived, however, as another substitute - this time Southend’s Nathan Ralph - sent a header past McLaughlin to restore the advantage for Sol Campbell’s side.

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Lafferty hit the post in stoppage time, but Sunderland were forced to leave Roots Hall empty-handed.

Final score: Southend United 3-2 Sunderland AFC

You can watch all five goals in the video at the top of the page.

STATS

It was a game dominated by the Black Cats, who had 15 shots to Southend’s 9 in a dominant display.

That said, six of those efforts were off target and Sunderland were deemed to have had no ‘clear cut chances’ during the 90 minutes.

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Southend slightly edged the possession, having 53% as Phil Parkinson’s side largely played on the counter-attack.

PLAYER RATINGS

Here’s how the Sunderland players rated in the simulated fixture:

Jon McLaughlin - 6.6

Tom Flanagan - 6.6

Joel Lynch - 6.7

Jordan Willis - 6.6

Luke O’Nien - 6.9

Denver Hume - 6.6

Josh Scowen - 6.4

Max Power - 7.1

Lynden Gooch - 6.4

Chris Maguire - 6.5

Kyle Lafferty - 7.4

Will Grigg - 6.5