SUNDERLAND .............................................................. 1 New boss but it’s same old blundering Sunderland
THERE was no fairytale introduction for Chris Coleman at the Stadium of Light as 10-man Sunderland slumped to defeat against Reading.
The Black Cats’ win at Burton Albion had brought a wave of optimism to Wearside ahead of Coleman’s first home game in charge but the new manager could not prevent the club’s record-breaking winless streak on their r own patch extending to 21 games in n all competitions.
Callum McManaman’s cManaman’s dismissal on the stroke of half-time for a second bookable e offence – putting the ball in the net t with his hand, having earlier been cautioned for a foul – was the decisive sive moment, with the visitors running ng away with the game in second period. iod.
Dave Edwards, wards, who played d under Coleman for Wales, put ut Reading in front soon after half-time before ore Modou Barrow scored twice in three minutes to put the game e beyond Sunderland’s reach.
A penalty from Lewis Grabban – earned by sub Joel Asoro – in the final 15 5 minutes proved no more than n a consolation goal.
There was more bad news for Sunderland nd with Bryan Oviedo limping ing off in the second half, while Paddy McNair was s withdrawn before kick-off ff after picking up a knock k in the warmup.
Chris Coleman leman had planned to name the same starting XI that won at Burton Albion last weekend, but that injury
Reading’s Modou Barrow celebrate his first goal with Dave Edwards to M McNair meant Darron Gibson started st in his place.
Brendan Galloway took Gibson’s place on the bench, and he was needed when Oviedo went off. Reading boss Jaap Stam name named an unchanged side, following th the Royals’ midweek win over Barns Barnsley.
His starting XI included two exSunde Sunderland men in the shape of goalk goalkeeper Vito Mannone and centre-ba tre-back Paul McShane.
Sun Sunderland fired a warning shot acros across Reading’s bows early on when Lee Cattermole swept a quick crossfi crossfield free-kick out to the left flank for George Honeyman, and he cut in inside before hitting a low effort which went just wide of the righthand post.
But it was Reading who created the b better opportunities in the first peri period, with Edwards firing over at
th the near post midway through the half after being picked out by Yann Kermorgant’s low w ball into the box from the right.
John O’Shea was in the right place at the right time to block ock a shot from Barrow behind for a corner on the half-hour.
And the visitors had d the only shot on target of the half just ust before the break, although Liam m Kelly’s longrange effort took a deflection and looped harmlessly into to the arms of Robbin Ruiter.
Referee Keith Stroud ud had been in the thick of the action, n, handing out five yellow cards, and nd he sent off McManaman – who ho had been booked for a foul on Barrow after a quarter of an hour – in injury time at the end of the first period.
And Reading made their man advantage count early in the second half.
Aiden McGeady gave the ball away and Reading came forward through Sone Aluko, who squared