Sunderland 1 Rotherham United 1
Ihiekwe (og 88)Ihiekwe( 17)
Rotherham United defender Michael Ihiekwe turned from hero to villain – though that is a little harsh – scoring an own goal to give Sunderland an equaliser tonight at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland started the better without really threatening after a Lynden Gooch free-kick in a good position saw Ollie Rathbone clear followed by a yellow card for Jay Matete after he caught Dan Barlaser in a fifty-fifty challenge. Richard Wood and Rarmani Edmonds-Green did well to clear their lines after Gooch sent a nice ball into the area for Ross Stewart. At the other end Chieo Ogbene showed his pace beating Callum Doyle down the wing but let the ball go just behind before he crossed. A long throw from Wes Harding found Ben Wiles who let fly seeing his shot deflected for the Millers first corner of the game. Barlaser sent the corner high into the box and Michael Ihiekwe jumped highest sending the travelling Millers wild as he headed the ball home. More good work from Ogbene saw him get the ball to Wiles who again let fly seeing the ball go just wide before a corner to the hosts saw Danny Batth head wide. At the other end Rathbone played a one-two with Jordi Osei-Tutu the ball going past the post before a good ball found Edmonds-Green who ran down the pitch sending the ball into the box for Ihiekwe who headed just wide. Just after the half-hour mark Corry Evans was first to a loose ball in the middle of the park sending it to Stewart whose cross into the box was easy for Viktor Johansson in the Millers’ goal. The hosts had a free-kick that came to nothing followed by a good ball from Stewart which saw Nathan Broadhead caught offside before Osei-Tutu sent a super ball through for Harding whose shot from inside the box was blocked. A one-two between Wiles and Barlaser saw a wild shot from Wiles fly over the crossbar before Smith sent a ball through for Ogbene who hit the ball from just outside the box to see it go past the upright. As the board went up for time added on Johansson came out well to claim a ball meant for Broadhead from Stewart. At the other end Osei-Tutu got the better of his marker winning a corner which there wasn’t time to take before the whistle went for half-time.
Like the first half the Black Cats started the better and just a few minutes in Lynden Gooch worked his way behind the Millers defence sending the ball for Corry Evans to run onto with the Irish midfielder putting the ball over the crossbar. Sunderland made the first change of the night fetching on Alex Pritchard for Nathan Broadhead. A Jay Matete foul on Chieo Ogbene saw the resulting free-kick end with a corner for the visitors which Dan Barlaser sent in for Michael Smith to head but the striker saw it go high over the crossbar. A second change for Sunderland saw Trai Hume make way for Jack Clarke whose first contribution was to give a corner away which Barlaser took, Richard Wood climbing highest to head with the home ‘keeper Anthony Patterson catching well. At the other end Luke O’Nien was given too much room and sent the ball to Stewart who couldn’t get on the end of it. Sunderland’s last change saw Elliot Embleton replace Jay Matete. With fifteen minutes to go a free-kick was sent into the box with Wood being tugged to the ground but referee Robert Madley waved any appeal away. Ollie Rathbone saw a yellow card for a trip on Lynden Gooch followed by the Millers’ first change seeing Joe Mattock on for Jordi Osei-Tutu. Sunderland won a free-kick in a good position which saw Pritchard shoot at goal only to see the ball hit the side netting. Ollie Rathbone made way for Jamie Lindsay for the visitors, the substitute winning a free-kick in the middle of the park. With five minutes to go the Millers really should have doubled their lead when a corner wasn’t cleared falling to Wiles who in turn sent the ball to Smith who in acres with space with just the goalie to beat shot wide. The Millers had a number of corners but it was the hosts who gave their fans something to cheer at on eighty-eight minutes when a good cross from Clarke saw Michael Ihiekwe head the ball trying to put it behind for a corner only to see it settle into the back of the net. In time added on Prichard won a corner which he took with Wood getting there first to head away before Ogbene got a lovely ball from Wiles but found five opposition players around him which put him off and his shot went wide.
So it was honours shared this evening at the Stadium of Light – such a shame for the Millers who had played so well firstly attacking in the first half and keeping Sunderland out until the final two minutes of the second half.
Attendance – 32,119
Referee – Robert Madley
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