Kermorgant pounces to deny Black Cats
reading 2
Kelly (pen, 20), Kermorgant (79) sunderland 2 Mcnair (47), Cattermole (66)
Sunderland edged another step closer to a second successive relegation when they squandered a 2-1 lead in their draw at fellow strugglers Reading.
Reading went in front in the 20th minute, when Liam Kelly lashed in a penalty after Jon Dadi Bodvarsson had been fouled in the area.
Sunderland controlled much of the first half, with Ashley Fletcher unlucky to hit a post, but they struck twice after the break.
Paddy Mcnair levelled it with a longrange screamer soon after the interval and stand-in skipper Lee Cattermole made it 2-1.
But home substitute Yann Kermorgant rose high to head in the equaliser with 11 minutes left.
Sunderland, relegated from the Premier League last term, had shown some improved form recently after a string of miserable results earlier in the season, losing only once in four matches.
They drew 1-1 at home to Norwich City on Tuesday, denied a victory by Ivo Pinto’s 89th-minute equaliser.
Reading had won 1-0 in both their previous home games under new manager Paul Clement, seeing off Queens Park Rangers and Preston North End.
But they lost 1-0 at Fulham on Tuesday, when utility player Leandro Bacuna was sent off in stoppage time.
Reading began sluggishly in the Berkshire sunshine, with Sunderland forcing the early pace. But nothing came of the visitors’ pressure and Reading soon went very close to breaking through the Sunderland cover.
Bodvarsson and John Swift looked to have raced clear, on separate occasions, but giant Sunderland centre-back Lamine Kone was on hand to twice snuff out the danger.
Sunderland replied quickly, with Callum Mcmanaman shooting wide, but Reading went ahead in the 20th minute.
Goalkeeper Lee Camp spilled Sone Aluko’s fierce effort and then brought down Bodvarsson as he pounced on the loose ball.
Kelly hammered home the spot kick with the minimum of fuss.
Camp then parried away a powerful 20-yarder from Kelly before Sunderland regrouped and could have equalised.
Fletcher struck an upright, with Liam Moore heading off the line from Mcmanaman’s goalbound follow-up effort.
Aiden Mcgeady was also twice denied by fine saves from home keeper Vito Mannone while Mcmanaman drove over when well placed.
However, Sunderland deservedly drew level just two minutes into the second half.
Dave Edwards carelessly lost possession in midfield and Mcnair was handed a free run before unleashing a superb 30-yard shot that Mannone barely saw.
Sunderland could then have gone ahead when Mcgeady crossed from the left, but Cattermole headed over at the far post.
Cattermole did much better in the 66th minute, stooping low to nod in Mcgeady’s free kick from close range. It was his first goal since August 2014.
But Reading pushed forward towards the end and were rewarded when Kermorgant nodded in a Chris Gunter cross.