Sunderland climb to third in League One after demolishing relegation threatened Morecambe 5-0 at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday evening. 

REPORT

Nathan Broadhead scored twice as Ross Steward, Alex Pritchard and Leon Dajaku were also on the scoresheet to help Johnson’s side to a comfortable victory, making it five league games unbeaten.

The Black Cats burst out of the blocks to score twice inside the opening 20 minutes, with wing-back Lynden Gooch claiming the assist on each occasion.

Gooch dribbled passed Morecambe full-back Ryan McLaughlin to deliver a decent cross from the left, as Stewart’s first-time shot beat the goalkeeper to make it 1-0.

Four minutes later, Gooch delivered another teasing cross which fell to the feet of Nathan Broadhead as the striker scored his first of the night. The Everton loanee gave himself space in the box and headed home from close range.

The home side missed a guilt-edged opportunity to make it three before the break as top scorer Ross Stewart prodded wide from his first-time shot.

In the closing stages of the first period, Morecambe were almost given a lifeline. Midfielder Aaron Wildig found himself unmarked as he diverted Alfie McCalmont’s cross wide after a rushed effort on goal.

Substitute Toumani Diagouraga went close for Morecambe in the opening stages of the second half but Sunderland put the game to bed with a third goal shortly before the hour mark – an impressive win to give the Wearsiders momentum heading into the condensed Christmas period.

Johnson’s side refused to sit back despite a comfortable lead.

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Alex Pritchard sweetly swept home from Dan Neil’s cutback as the hosts made it three. Nathan Broadhead netted his second twelve minutes later as his driven shot flew passed Letheran in the Morecambe net.

Nobody has more assists under their name in League One than Sunderland Midfielder Neil who was heavily involved yet again on Tuesday evening.

Sunderland added a fifth with three minutes remaining as Dajaku’s shot took a hefty deflection before finding the back of the net, putting the icing on the cake for the Black Cats.

Academy graduate Kimpioka helped engineer the fifth, before Dajaku’s deflected strike hit the back of the net.

It was their joint-biggest win of the season as Johnson’s side continue to climb the table in their hunt for promotion to the Championship.

The victory sees the Black Cats move within two points of Rotherham in top spot, with 6th placed Plymouth Argyle up next at the Stadium of Light on Saturday for a play-off place battle.

Table Toppers Rotherham face tenth placed Burton on Saturday knowing that anything less than a win may see them move from first position, with Sunderland breathing down their necks.

The performance combined with the emphatic result kept the Sunderland faithful warm in otherwise brutal winter conditions as yet another storm hit the region.

The only storm at the Stadium of Light was from the side in red and white who demolished the Shrimps to climb within two places of top spot in League One.

SO, WHAT NEXT?

The win represents more than just three points for Sunderland who have found some much-needed momentum heading into the crucial festive period.

The result gives supporters hope that the club is on the right track once again with the real possibility of promotion come the end of the season.

Lee Johnson saw what his side have been missing in previous weeks as it all seemed to come together on the night.

Sunderland were clinical in front of goal, kept possession well, played with an increased tempo, and pressed Morecambe off the ball until it was back in their hands.

The Black Cats can’t be expected to play with that level of intensity in every game but at the Stadium of Light, Tuesday’s performance should be the benchmark as in previous years the Wearsiders have drawn far too many games on home soil.

PLAYER RATINGS

Hoffmann (7), Wright (7), Flanagan (7), Doyle (7); Neil (8), Winchester (7), Dajaku (8), Gooch (9), Pritchard (9), Broadhead (8), Stewart (8)

Subs: Embleton (6), O’Brien (6), Mbunga-Kimpioka (7)

MANAGERS COMMENTS

Sunderland manager Lee Johnson: 

“It was a tough game going into it, the pressure was on and we performed extremely well. They gave us a couple of warning signs in that first half, but we felt like we could exploit their backline with the quality we’ve got. They have got good forward players and a lot of energy in midfield, so they can cause you problems.

“We knew they’d penetrate at some point during the game, but generally I felt we had good control. Right from the start, you could feel the vibe. It was really positive from the start. We started well and it carried on from there.”

He added:

“It was such a cold night and obviously a few less fans than normal because of the weather. I’m really pleased for the fans that turned up, we gave them a five-star show.”

Morecambe Manager Stephen Robinson:

“We’ve a mountain to climb before the game has even started. We then passed the ball about, we looked pretty, we had chances, Jonah [Ayunga] has got to score, Aaron [Wildig] should score and we’ve a goal disallowed.

“Ultimately, if you’re going to defend like that at a stadium like this with good, good Championship players in the squad, then you’re going to get punished, and we got exactly what we deserved.”

He added:

“It could’ve been two all if we had taken our chances, I think that’s the difference in the levels in terms of the quality they have at the top end of the pitch, they get chances, they take them, we get chances, we don’t.”

Post-match thoughts? Who was your man-of-the-match? Can Sunderland reach top spot by Christmas? Will the Black Cats gain promotion to the Championship come May?

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