ELL’S BELLS
Embleton steals in to save Black Cats
THE importance of substitutes to Sunderland was highlighted by boss Alex Neil after Elliot Embleton snatched the late winner at fellow play-off hopefuls Oxford.
Embleton fired home from Ross Stewart’s pass in the 89th minute, just three minutes after Neil sent him on, to give the Black Cats a victory that greatly boosts their top-six hopes.
Captain Corry Evans had prodded home a shot through a crowded penalty box to give Sunderland the lead in the 16th minute, before home captain Elliott Moore equalised by heading in Billy Bodin’s free-kick 19 minutes later. Neil said: “Embo has had a big part to play recently in terms of affecting games, whether it be an assist or a goal, and he popped up with the winner. I told him afterwards he is important and all the substitutes are important. They will be crucial between now and the end of the season.
“We wouldn’t have got the points we have from the last three or four if it weren’t for the guys coming on the pitch and impacting the game. I can’t stress enough how important those lads are.
“It’s difficult to keep their minds focused and keep them motivated when they’re disappointed because they’re not playing - but time after time they’re coming on and doing well.
“When you’re playing teams at the top end of the division and everybody is vying for those top six spots, games will be defined by key moments.”
Oxford manager Karl Robinson is not giving up hope but a third successive defeat in eight days was a massive blow to his team’s chances of being in the top six at the end of the campaign. Robinson
said: “In the last three games, we have deserved a lot more than we have got. If you were being critical, it would be our final decision-making in the final third that was just a bit off.”