Sunderland Echo

Time-wasting and tweets – are these the moments you missed?

- Joe Nicholson Football Writer @joe_nicholson9­6

At the full-time whistle on Saturday, Sunderland fans were once again singing about Amad Diallo running down the wing.

After missing two games with a hamstring issue, the Manchester United lo a nee had come off the bench to score a penalty as the Black Cats came from behind to draw 1-1 with Luton Town at the Stadium of Light.

The decision to award a spot kick was certainly a controvers­ial one though, after referee Scott Oldham initially waited and looked at the linesman when Amad tangled with Luton’s Amari'i Bell in the box.

Sunderland fans will feel they were due a decision after Wednesday’s defeat against Sheffield United, whose winninggoa­l should have been disallowed for offside.

Here are some of the moments you may have missed…

Luton players react to penalty call

After venting his frustratio­non the pitch, Bell later took to Twitter to comment on the penalty decision.

He tweeted: “Thanks to the support today was amazing, disappoint­ed we couldn’t get the win due to a bad moment. Shambles but what can we do, see you soon.”

Luton striker Carlton Morris also tweeted: “I can’t say too much without getting into trouble but I wanted to thank the@ Luton Town faithful travelling up to support us. We won’t stop fighting.”

Luke O’Nien’s word with

Anthony Patterson

Sunderland found themselves a goal down after Alfie Doughty’s deflected shot went through the legs of goalkeeper Patterson – and as the Luton players celebrated, O’Nien went over to his keeper to offer a word of encouragem­ent.

"I just said ‘listen we go again’,” O’Nien said.

“There were so many bodies in front of him, he couldn’t see it, so I just went over and didn’t really say anything to him. He just goes ‘that’s life’.

“He’s so consistent and is like‘ let’ s go again ’. I said‘ is there anything we could have done ?’, and he said ‘I couldn’t see’. He’s saved us so many times this season.”

Luton substitute is booked

With Luton a goal ahead, there were moments when the visitors tried to run the clock down in the second half.

With 15 minutes remaining, substitute Cauley Woodrow even tried throwing the ball into the stands as he tried to waste time while he was warming up on the touchline.

Despite not being on the pitch at that stage, the striker was booked for his interventi­on.

Sunderland’s note taking

A few minutes earlier, Tony Mowbray had made four substituti­ons at once by bringing on Lynden Gooch, Alex Pritchard, Pierre Ekwah and Jewison Bennette.

Those changes also meant a change of shape, with O’Nien movingfrom­left-backinabac­k four to a left centre-back position in a back three.

That instructio­n was passed onto O’ Ni en by Pr it cha rd, who came onto the pitch with a note which explained Sunderland’ s tactical switch.

Luton’s penalty appeal

Before Sunderland’s equaliser, Luton felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Elijah Adebayo tangled with Gooch in Sunderland’s box. A free-kick instead went the way of the hosts, prompting Adebayo to punch the floor in frustratio­n.

 ?? ?? Amad Diallo.
Amad Diallo.

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