McGEADY IS A MAN ON A MISSION
JACK ROSS praised the quality of man-of-the-match Aidan McGeady after a comprehensive victory at the Memorial Stadium, and said his star is determined to win Sunderland promotion.
The Black Cats’ boss was also delighted that his goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin never had a shot to save from relegation-threatened Rovers, who ran up against a brick wall in central defenders Tom Flanagan and Jimmy Dunne.
But at the other end it was former Everton midfielder McGeady, with a perfectly-flighted cross in the build-up to the first goal and a sweetly-struck free-kick for the second, who made the difference.
“Aidan has been a match-winner before for us this season,” said Ross.
“Having been in a relegation squad, he is desperate to get the club back to the Championship where a player of his calibre should be performing. We needed to create the environment to make the most of his ability and he is enjoying his football at the moment.”
Luke O’Nien shot Sunderland ahead from close range after 25 minutes after McGeady’s measured ball to the far post from the right had been turned across the six-yard box by Will Grigg.
Rovers never looked capable of responding and, when Liam Sercombe was penalised for handball in a central position just outside the box after 55 minutes, McGeady found the top corner with right-footed free-kick.
Home boss Graham Coughlan took no consolation from losing to promotion favourites. “After the first goal we went into our shells and we have to be better than that,” he said.
“I very upset and disappointed. I pride myself on attention to detail and we have not shown that today, which has really cost us.
“Their first goal came from a short corner. We haven’t reacted and then allowed an international striker in Grigg to drift off us at the far post.”
The visitors took a 25th-minute lead when McGeady’s cross from the right reached Grigg at the far post and his volley across goal was turned in from close range by O’Nien.
McGeady made the points safe after 55 minutes, finding the top corner with a perfectly struck right-footed free-kick from a central position just outside the box after Liam Sercombe had been penalised for handball.
Neither side could create much in a first half that saw Alex Rodman, Gavin Reilly and Ollie Clarke fire wide for Rovers from outside the box.Sunderland’s defence coped comfortably with some predictable attacks from their hosts and substitute Charlie Wyke missed three late chances to extend the lead. The result saw Rovers slip back into the drop zone and on this form they face a huge battle for survival.