Cats let Tigers off the hook as run continues
SUNDERLAND’S winless streak stretched to five games as they twice threw away the lead against leaders Hull City.
Jordan Jones gave the Black Cats the lead after ten minutes, only for Josh Magennis to level just before the half-hour.
Grant Leadbitter put Sunderland back in front five minutes later from the penalty spot after Callum Elder had handled inside the box, but Magennis equalised for a second time shortly after the hour.
Sunderland hit the woodwork twice, first through Jones with the game still goalless and then in injury time through sub Aiden O’Brien.
But Lee Johnson will be alarmed at the way his side conceded two more cheap goals, as that particular unwelcome pattern continued.
Hull could have sealed automatic promotion if they had won and other results had gone in their favour, but they will have to keep the champagne on ice.
The Black Cat have ended their run of three successive defeats but the draw meant they made minimal inroads into the points gap between themselves and second-placed Peterborough, despite Posh losing against Gillingham.
Sunderland stay third in the table and are now seven points behind Peterborough, with four games left to play. Lincoln City are now behind Sunderland only on goal difference, with the
Imps having a game in hand. Johnson made two changes to the side that started the weekend defeat at Blackpool.
Aiden McGeady missed out with a swollen foot, and his place was taken by Lynden Gooch. And Carl Winchester replaced O’Brien, who dropped to the bench.
Mallik Wilks tested Lee Burge with an early shot, but Sunderland were the better side in the opening 15 minutes.
And Jones had already headed against the crossbar from a Gooch delivery when the pair combined again 60 seconds later to give the Black Cats the lead on ten minutes.
Gooch did well to dispossess Elder near the corner flag on the right, and his cross to the far post was met by the oncoming Jones who rifled his low volley across the keeper and into the bottom right-hand corner. Hull had chances to equalise, with Burge making a good save from a Keane Lewis-Potter free-kick, and then from the resulting corner Wilks somehow stabbed a shot wide from just a yard out.
The home side felt Charlie Wyke should have been sent off for an elbow on Jacob Greaves which left the defender in need of lengthy treatment, but referee Charles Breakspear produced a yellow card rather than a red.
Hull did get back on terms on 28 minutes as Sunderland conceded another of the sloppy goals that have undermined their promotion bid in recent games.
Wilks beat Callum McFadzean too easily just outside the right corner of the box, and when he delivered his cross into the box, Bailey Wright had failed to track Magennis which left the striker with a close-range header.
But Sunderland were soon back in front, with Gooch flicking the ball over the head of Elder inside the penalty area and when the left-back handled it, the linesman immediately flagged for a penalty.
Leadbitter stepped up to send Matt Ingram the wrong way from the spot, and coolly rolled the ball into the bottom righthand corner.
In the second half, Hull had to come out fighting as they looked for an equaliser once more.
Burge made a smart save from Wilks minutes after the restart, and then just after the hour there was an almighty scramble inside the penalty area from a Hull corner and Josh Scowen made a terrific block to deny Magennis.
But Hull’s pressure paid off in the 64th minute, as Sunderland’s defence was again undone far too easily.
Once again, Wilks was given far too much space by McFadzean and his cross found Magennis, who planted a firm header beyond Burge.
Sunderland went closest to finding a decisive goal in the dying minutes.
First O’Brien got on the end of a Gooch cross but Ingram made a reaction save. From the resulting corner, an O’Brien header came back off the bar.