Winiesta on a roll
COOL CARL HELPS TOP CATS STRETCH LEAD
CARL WINCHESTER – the man Sunderland fans call ‘Winiesta’ – scored a goal the Spanish maestro himself would have been proud of to stretch the Black Cats’ lead at the top.
The right-back ran on to a sublime Aiden Mcgeady pass to drill the ball past James Trafford in the 58th minute after Michael Nottingham had cancelled out Dan Neil’s opener.
And while Sunderland remain a million miles away from drawing comparisons with Europe’s elite, the feel-good factor is starting to return to the Stadium of Light after years in the doldrums.
The home crowd are certainly enjoying the football their side are playing under Lee Johnson as the hosts created a hatful of chances either side of the break.
Johnson said: “We gave away too many set-pieces in the first half but I also felt we were very slick once we broke the press.
“The frustration is that we did not score more goals – but we are a team that is still growing and learning.”
It’s been quite a week for teenage talent in the world of sport and Sunderland reckon they have a budding superstar of their own in 19-year-old Neil.
The youngster’s dribbling ability and eye for a pass have already caused a stir this term, and on 15 minutes Neil showed he has quite a finish on him too with his first senior goal.
Shifting the ball from left foot to right, he let fly from 22 yards out with a piledriver which gave Trafford no chance.
Sunderland could have been out of sight inside the opening half an hour.
Top scorer Ross Stewart had a goalbound shot blocked,
Lynden Gooch headed Neil’s cross over from close range, Elliot Embleton’s volley was just off target and Winchester’s screamer whistled wide.
And they were made to pay when Accrington defender Nottingham met Sean Mcconville’s corner with a bullet header ending the hopes of keeper Thorben Hoffmann – on loan from Bayern Munich – marking his debut with a clean sheet.
Sandwiched between
Winchester’s second goal of the campaign, Mcgeady twice went
close while Stewart should have scored only for Trafford to thwart him when clean through.
But the hosts breathed a sigh of relief when Dennis Cirkin headed Matt Butcher’s 68th minute shot off the line after on-loan defender Callum Doyle lost possession.
Stanley boss John Coleman moaned: “There was nothing in the game, it could have gone either way.”
SUNDERLAND: Hoffman 5; Winchester 7, Flanagan 6, Doyle 6, Cirkin 6; O’nien 6, NEIL 8; Mcgeady 7, Embleton 6 (Wright 84), Gooch 6 (Pritchard 69, 6); Stewart 7.
Unused subs: Burge, Huggins, Evans, Alves, Broadhead.
ACCRINGTON STANLEY: Trafford 7; Sykes 6, Nottingham 7, Sherring 6; Clark 6 (Mumblong 73, 5), Butcher 6 (Malcolm 73, 5), Morgan 6, Pell 5 (Hamilton 45, 6), Mcconville 7; Bishop 6, Charles 6.
Unused subs: Leigh, Nolan, Amankwah, Savin.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Dan Neil. Twinkle-toed balls skills, hammer of a shot.
REFEREE: Anthony Backhouse 6.