What happened and who impressed as Sunderland seal Papa John's Trophy quarter-final place

Aiden O’Brien booked Sunderland’s place in the quarter-finals of the Papa John’s Tophy as a much changed-side delivered an assured performance against Port Vale.
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O’Brien capped a lively individual showing with his well-taken goal early in the first half, and a bright Black Cats XI should have extended their lead further before the break.

The visitors improved in the second half and had some threatening moments on the counter-attack, but Remi Matthews was a relative bystander as the home side secured a deserved win, Aiden McGeady adding a final flourish with a late penalty when fellow substitute Jack Diamond was brought down in the box with seconds to play.

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Jamie McAllister had urged Sunderland’s fringe players to take their chance to impress and the response was an encourging one, the Black Cats enterprising in possession and easy on the eye.

Aiden O'Brien puts Sunderland ahead at the Stadium of LightAiden O'Brien puts Sunderland ahead at the Stadium of Light
Aiden O'Brien puts Sunderland ahead at the Stadium of Light

As they had finished the game against Hull City, Lynden Gooch moved infield to support the central striker with Chris Maguire and Elliot Embleton giving the midfield an attacking look.

The home side took control from the off, Maguire forcing the first save when Dan Neil opened up the pitch with a glorious through ball. O’Brien’s cross was overhit, but Maguire controlled it well and almost fired his effort into the far corner.

The Black Cats continued to press and had the lead twenty minutes in, the move sparked by Embleton winning possession near the halfway line. Sunderland enjoyed a lucky bounce in the middle of the pitch but from there were clinical, Gooch releasing O’Brien and the Irishman doing the rest with a deft first-time finish across the goalkeeper.

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The home side were visibly buoyed, hitting the woodwork shortly after. Embleton and Power combined neatly from a short corner, the former spinning away from his marker in the box before striking a firm effort that was deflected onto the crossbar by Gooch.

Embleton and Neil were catching the eye, almost combining to produce a second when Embleton flashed an effort just over the bar after an excellent exchange on the edge of the area.

That Neil had to be replaced with an injury at the break was one of the few negatives of a promising opening for Sunderland, the youngster a key part of a side that looked more fluid and threatening in possession.

The momentum of the home side was initially unaffected, Port Vale defender Whitehead slicing a cross from Maguire onto his own crossbar early in the second half.

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Sunderland continued to dominate, two half-chances for Gooch flashing wide.

The concern was always that a lack of ruthlessness in landing the second goal cut cost the Black Catsm and after the hour mark they began to be stretched on the break by a visiting side growing in confidence.

Remi Matthews remained untested though, and a triple substitution steadied the home side.

They should have scored when McGeady floated a wonderful cross into the box, Wyke drawing a save with a firm header.

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Sunderland looked at ease, but had to survive a late scare as Montano flashed a promising opening wide. They made sure of the win with seconds to play when O’Brien sprung Diamond clear, the winger drawing a foul as he sprung away from goalkeeper Visser in the box.

The Port Vale goalkeeper almost made the save, getting a strong hand to McGeady’s penalty, but the effort was firmly struck and found the top corner.

Sunderland XI: Matthews; Power; Willis (Younger, 73), Wright, McFadzean; Neil (Leadbitter, 45), Embleton (Diamond, 79), Scowen; Maguire (McGeady, 73), Gooch (Wyke, 73), O’Brien

Subs: Patterson, Dobson

Port Vale XI: Visser, Crookes (Fitzpatrick, 73), Legge, Smith, Conlan (Taylor, 57), Robinson (Pope, 72), Mills, Whitehead, Amoo, Burgess (Cullen, 72), Hurst (Montano, 20)

Subs: Brown, Brisley

Bookings: Conlan, 8 McFadzean, 54 Wright, 56