Sunderland developing a costly habit as late drama proves their undoing at Stoke
ANOTHER stoppage-time sickener for Sunderland. After the Boxing Day sucker-punch at Blackburn came last gasp heartbreak at Stoke and for the Black Cats a hugely frustrating end to 2024.
Three dropped points in three days. After letting two slip at Ewood Park, another one was lost when Tom Cannon – a Sunderland summer target – struck a 92nd-minute winner for managerless Stoke.
They still end the year sitting comfortably in the top six but are now playing catch-up in the battle for the top two.
Defeat was harsh on Sunderland who, while by no means at their best, still had 22 shots on goal. But as was the case when the sides met at the Stadium of Light earlier this month, they were frustrated by Stoke’s brilliant goalkeeper Viktor Johansson. He made superb stops to deny Wilson Isidor and Trai Hume in the first half and Adil Aouchiche in the second.
Sunderland were also denied what looked like a clear cut first half penalty when Chris Mepham was dragged to the deck inside the box. And they were then a denied a point when Cannon struck in the final minutes, ending a five-match unbeaten run for Regis Le Bris’ side, who now have to dust themselves down for the New Year’s Day visit of rivals Sheffield United.
They’ll again be without Chris Rigg against the Blades. The teenager was ruled out of the Stoke game with the ankle injury suffered at Blackburn and will miss this week’s two home games. He’s unlikely to be risked for the cup re-run against Stoke but should be back for the Burnley trip.
His absence and the decision to rest Patrick Roberts meant first Championship starts of the season for Milan Aleksic and Aouchiche.
This was the second of three meetings in a month between the sides and there’s every chance Sunderland will find themselves facing a different manager on each occasion.
Narcis Pelach got the boot on Friday, paying the price for a grim run of nine winless matches, and Stoke will hope to have their new permanent manager in place by the time they head for the Stadium of Light in the FA Cup in a fortnight’s time.
Ryan Shawcross was tasked with steadying the ship while the process of finding the ninth permanent manager since 2018 is carried out. And despite having less than 48 hours to prepare for the visit of the Black Cats, the former centre-half got a reaction out of his players, for it was the out of form Potters who had the better of the early chances on Sunday.
Cannon had two good chances inside the first 20 minutes, twice denied by Anthony Patterson who on both occasions rushed off his line and dived at the feet of the striker.
But it was Johansson who ended up the busier of the keepers and, as was the case at the Stadium of Light earlier in the month, Stoke’s number one again showed his quality and frustrated the Black Cats.
He made a brilliant pointblank save when he instinctively pushed Isidor’s toe-poke on to the post 10 minutes before the break then made a superb stop at full stretch to deny Trai Hume soon after.
Stoke fans booed referee James Bell off at half-time but the Potters should have been thankful, for the official had missed a clear cut Sunderland penalty when Mepham was fouled.
Mepham came to Sunderland’s rescue just after the hour mark when he bravely hacked clear from underneath his own crossbar after Patterson’s fine save to keep out Lewis Koumas’ effort.
Aouchiche then hit the post before the unmarked Eliezer Mayenda missed Sunderland’s best chance when he headed wide from six yards out. And the Black Cats were made to pay when Cannon lashed in from the edge of the box in stoppage time.
