Slack Cats trounced as Tractor Boys run riot
SHAMBOLIC Sunderland were embarrassed by one of their own academy products as they were demolished by Ipswich Town.
South Shields-born Martyn Waghorn scored the Tractor Boys’ opening goal and provided the assists for three more as the Black Cats’ season plumbed new depths at Portman Road.
Waghorn left Wearside for Leicester City in 2010 and, after stints at Wigan Athletic and Rangers plus multiple loan spells elsewhere, ex-Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy brought him to Suffolk this summer.
And he ran riot against his old club, assisted by some truly abject defending.
He headed Ipswich in front early on and, after Billy Jones levelled soon after, a Waghorn set-piece led to the second goal scored by Jordan Spence before the half-hour.
The 27-year-old then set up two more goals for his side before the hour, Bersant Celina and David McGoldrick the men applying the finishing touches, as Sunderland imploded.
Aiden McGeady scored a fine goal to reduce the arrears, before sub Grant Ward added the fifth for Ipswich in the final minute.
But in truth, Sunderland were lucky not to be on the end of an even worse scoreline as Ipswich could have scored double the five goals they managed.
Waghorn missed a sitter in the first half and they also saw two shots cleared off the line.
As for Sunderland, they were pathetic.
They have now gone eight games without a win and, on this evidence, the bottom three of the Championship is exactly where they deserve to be and they are heading for yet another relegation battle. Simon Grayson made five changes to the side that began the home defeat against Cardiff City at the weekend, but even the return of Callum McManaman and McGeady to the starting XI – at the expense of George Honeyman and Lynden Gooch – could not inspire them.
He also dropped Didier Ndong, with Darron Gibson brought into the side. Jason Steele replaced Robbin Ruiter in goal, while Jones returned from injury to take Ty Browning’s place in defence.
Any hope Sunderland had of taking the initiative in the game lasted only six minutes.
That was how many minutes were on the clock when Waghorn headed them in front from Joe Garner’s right-wing cross.
Sunderland were back on terms just four minutes later, Jones heading home at the near post from McGeady’s left-wing corner.
But the Tractor Boys reacted by putting Sunderland on the back foot, and they could have run away with the game before half-time.
Lee Cattermole had to clear a header from Garner off the line, and then midway through the half Waghorn blew a glorious chance when he side-footed wide from six yards.
Waghorn made amends in the 27th minute, however, when he laid on Ipswich’s second goal for Spence, with his corner finding the run of the centre-back, who outjumped James Vaughan to power his header past Steele.
Aside from the goal and a couple of long-range pot-shots, Sunderland’s only other effort of note in the first half saw Bialkowski forced to save with his legs from McManaman after the winger had been set up inside the box by Cattermole.
A couple of minutes after the break, Cattermole saw a header brilliantly tipped over the bar by Bialkowski.
But Ipswich took the game away from the Black Cats with two goals in the space of five minutes.
First Celina rifled home in the 55th minute after being set up inside the penalty area by Waghorn’s flick.
And then on the hour Waghorn provided the cross as McGoldrick scored at the second attempt after Steele had saved his initial effort.
McGeady pulled a goal back with a stunning 25-yard strike in the 65th minute, but by then the game was already a dead rubber. And just in case there was any doubt, Ward added the fifth in the final minute.