BRISTOL ROVERS ................................................... 0 Cats win Bristol fashion to boost promotion hopes

SUNDERLAND completed back-to-back league wins for the first time in 2019 as they turned up the heat in the promotion race.

Goals either side of half-time from Luke O’nien and Aiden Mcgeady saw them run out comfortable winners against struggling Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium.

With second-placed Barnsley and fourth-placed Portsmouth grinding out a goalless draw, the third-placed Black Cats took advantage and cut the gap between themselves and the automatic promotion places to two points – while retaining their game in hand of the Tykes.

Leaders Luton, who do not play until today, are six points ahead of the Wearsiders with both clubs having played the same number of games.

Jack Ross made just one change to the side which started the midweek win over Gillingham, which was forced upon him as Chris Maguire suffered a fractured fibula in that game which will rule him out for at least six weeks.

His place was taken by Duncan Watmore, who was himself returning from a groin problem.

Bristol Rovers’ boss Graham Coughlan made three changes to the side which held Portsmouth to a draw on Tuesday.

He brought in Ollie Clarke, Gavin Reilly, and Alex Rodman in place of Joe Partington, Ed Upson, and Alex Jakubiak.

Sunderland were forced back in the early stages as Rovers made a fast start, Rodman shooting across the face of goal from outside the box on the quarter-hour while Jonson Clarke-harris headed well wide from a corner shortly afterwards.

The Wearsiders, however, weathered that storm and began to cause problems of their own - and they went in front in the 23rd minute through O’nien.

A slip by Tony Craig gave away a needless corner on the right which Grant Leadbitter played short to Mcgeady and his cross found Will Grigg unmarked at the far post.

Grigg’s shot went across the face of goal but O’nien reacted fastest and got in front of Ollie Clarke to touch home from close range.

Both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances and Rovers were reduced to trying their luck from outside the box, Rodman sending a shot wide just before half-time.

Mcgeady gave Sunderland a two-goal cushion 10 minutes into the second period, curling a freekick from the edge of the D into the top left-hand corner with the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

Clarke-harris looped a header on to the roof of the net from a corner, while Liam Sercombe sent a free-kick over the bar from inside the D as Rovers tried to find a way back into the game.

Sunderland always looked the more likely side to score and if substitute Charlie Wyke had taken more care with his finishing they could have been out of sight.

Fellow sub Lewis Morgan got to the byline on the right and cut the ball back to Wyke, who could only volley over from eight yards out.

Then in the dying minutes Morgan was again the provider, racing away down the right and getting into the box before squaring for Wyke - who sidefooted wide of the left-hand upright.