Peterborough United v Sunderland AFC Preview & Match Thread

FFS back to conceding late goals, will we ever learn.

Playoffs now.

www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/peterborough-1-1-sunderland-talking-16164883



Cattermole stars for Sunderland, but Black Cats lack edge - the big talking points

Lee Cattermole was terrific in an unchanged side, but the drama at London Road was all saved until the dying minutes

The drama was all saved for the final minutes as Sunderland snatched a draw from the jaws of victory at Peterborough United.

As the game ticked over into the 87th minute, it looked as though the Black Cats would be frustrated by only their second 0-0 of the season. With results elsewhere, that was not enough.

Little did we know, however, that the drama was only just beginning at London Road.

Whatever you say about Jack Ross’ team, they rarely leave us short of talking points.

Two huge goals

By the time they kicked off Sunderland had been dropped into fourth by Portsmouth’s tight win at home to Coventry City, and by half-time it seemed pretty clear Barnsley would be picking up maximum points from their trip to Plymouth Argyle.

With 86 minutes gone, it looked like control of their fate was going to slip out of the Black Cats’ hands only for Luke O’Nien to play a lovely pass inside for Max Power to stroke the ball inside the far post.

It was a huge goal in a super-tight promotion battle.

The ecstasy in the away end turned to despair in the course of five minutes.

Just after the board went up to tells us there would be a minimum of seven added minutes, Matt Godden produced an equally assured and just as important finish.

It was a devastating blow for the Black Cats at a time of the season where they have next to no wriggle room, but they could have no complaints. A draw was a fair result from an even and open game.

Kenny Jackett’s Pompey are now the team – the only team – who can win automatic promotion by winning their remaining fixtures. The good news for Sunderland is they can derail Pompey by beating them at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, but that will more than likely put Barnsley, rather than the Black Cats in the box seat.

Peterborough 1-1 Sunderland


Same again from Jack Ross

Jack Ross resisted the temptation to change his XI or even the substitute’s bench from Good Friday’s 2-0 win over Doncaster Rovers.

It was not the most demanding of victories, it must be said, but with so many options in his squad, it was a surprise he did not bring in Will Grigg, Grant Leadbitter on one of the many other options he had at London Road.

Although Sunderland were unable to get the three points they needed so badly, it would be wrong to point to a shortage of energy for that.

No lack of energy from Lee Cattermole

After a litany of injuries in the latter years of his ten-season Sunderland career, central midfielder Lee Cattermole is one of those who needs to be “managed” at the end of a long slog of a season, but he did not look like he needed a rest as he powered through his second game of the Easter weekend.

He was tracking his men back when Peterborough counter-attacked, playing slide-rule passes like the one Charlie Wyke should at least have put on target rather than into the side-netting, and late in the half galloping down the left wing like a man who had taken a bang to the head and come around thinking he was Ryan Giggs.

Luke O’Nien would have cause to be grateful for the fact Cattermole was still full of energy in the 76th minute.

Written off so many times in his Stadium of Light career that it stopped being funny years ago, the Teessider remains a pivotal part of his adopted football club, whatever division they find themselves in.

Dunne provides an aerial threat but Sunderland lack a cutting edge

Jimmy Dunne’s return to the side has been a reminder of how much more potent the Black Cats look at set-pieces with the centre-back in their ranks.

Dunne only hit the target once, though, forcing an excellent flying save from Aaron Chapman in first-half added time.

‘The best chance of the game had already been and gone by then, Aiden McGeady’s terrific turn and Cattermole’s precise pass playing in Charlie Wyke, but the Teessider’s touch was too heavy and he shot into the side netting when he ought to have at least hit the target.

It would be a costly miss.

Bryan Oviedo of Sunderland is given a yellow card (Image: Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
Oviedo and O’Nien get lucky

Full-backs Bryan Oviedo and O’Nien could both have been sent off in the second half but much-maligned referee Anthony Coggins got both calls right.

The Costa Rican took less than 100 seconds putting his name in the referee’s notebook for a foul on Marcus Maddison and when he stuck a leg in on the right-winger at the start of the second half he was extremely worried to see the referee give a Posh free-kick. Oviedo was sent off for a stray elbow against Peterborough in the reverse fixture.

Fortunately for Sunderland, Coggins consulted with his linesman, yards from the incident, who told him Maddison had hurdled the outstretched leg before tumbling theatrically to the ground, and the card was waved in the Geordie’s direction as the referee reversed his decision.

Shortly after former Newcastle United forward Ivan Toney cam on, he was hacked down by O’Nien. He continues to push forward too, volleying over as Sunderland’s desperate search for a goal entered its 85th minute.

It was a terrible, cynical challenge, but with Cattermole back covering, the punishment was only a yellow card.

Problem is we won't win all the remaining games.

I hope we get the right result to repay your expense 😉

rokerreport.sbnation.com/2019/4/23/18512257/finlays-report-sunderland-slipped-up-you-can-hear-the-cheers-from-barnsley-and-portsmouth


Finlay’s Report: “Sunderland slipped up - you can hear the cheers from Barnsley and Portsmouth!”


You can hear the cheers from Barnsley and Portsmouth after Sunderland slipped up, which left Lads fans everywhere wondering if our team would have to settle for the play-offs.

This is after we drew 1-1 against Peterborough while everyone around us won, leaving Jack Ross’ side four points adrift of Barnsley in that much-sought after second automatic promotion spot. Max Power had given Sunderland the lead in the 86th minute when his low strike beat Aaron Chapman - an effort which was cancelled out just minutes later when Matt Godden scored an equaliser to make sure that both sides took a point.

So, after Portsmouth came from one down to beat Coventry City 2-1 at Fratton Park in the early kickoff in League One and Barnsley beat Plymouth Argyle 3-0 at Home Park, Sunderland are now four points away from second place Barnsley.

This means even if we win their game in hand we can’t catch the Tykes, instead hoping we not only win three very tough games but that Daniel Stendel’s men also slip up in one of their two remaining fixtures.

Bryan Oviedo picked up a booking just minutes into the game when he brought down Durham-born Marcus Maddison in the Sunderland half. Shortly after, Sunderland had one of the first chances of the match when Max Power’s shot was on target, but it proved to be an easy save for the Peterborough goalkeeper Aaron Chapman.

In the 29th minute the home side had a good opportunity to take the lead when Maddison was given space to weave around the Sunderland half and progress forward. From just outside the penalty area, his curling shot flew wide of the left post.

The biggest chance of the opening 45 came when Cattermole played a fantastic through ball through to Charlie Wyke which sent the big man through on goal - despite the golden opportunity, the former Boro striker’s shot from the left side of the penalty area missed the target and hit the side netting.

If it wasn’t for a double save from Aaron Chapman then Sunderland would have been ahead - first producing a magnificent save from a Dunne header, and then a McGeady shot.

The Lads had arguably the better chances but couldn’t take them - and, as such, they went into the break with the scores level.

It was a very stop-start opening to the second period, with neither side showing an attacking threat or having a real attempt to take the lead.

Jack Ross made his first substitution of the game when he brought on Will Grigg in place of George Honeyman, resulting in a change of formation with Grigg partnering Charlie Wyke up top in a 4-4-2. Soon after he made his second change, bringing on Lynden Gooch for Lewis Morgan, who’d had a good game to that point.

Then, with 78 minutes on the clock, it was time for the return of Chris Maguire, who replaced Aiden McGeady on the left wing.

With four minutes of the original 90 left, Sunderland scored the all important goal. O’Nien played the ball to Power, who cautiously made his way towards the penalty area before firing his shot from range into the bottom left corner to send the away supporters wild.

The good feeling didn’t last long though as Peterborough managed to find an equaliser in the first minute of added time. Former Newcastle United striker Ivan Toney kept hold of the ball inside the penalty area under very little pressure and played it back to Matt Godden, whose right-footed shot cushioned off the inside of the left post and into the back of the net.

No team was able to find a winner, and the game ended in a disappointing draw.

Next up, Sunderland face perhaps their biggest game of the season when Portsmouth come to the Stadium of Light. There is more to play for for the Black Cats as Portsmouth are two points ahead of Sunderland, but a win is absolutely necessary whilst also hoping Barnsley somehow slip up against Blackpool.