Sunderland 5-0 Morecambe: Match Report and Player Ratings
Goals from Ross Stewart, a double from Nathan Broadhead and Alex Pritchard secured a comfortable three points for Sunderland at home to Morecambe that briefly took them up to third in the table.
Stewart opened the scoring, getting on the end of a Gooch cross before Broadhead added a second through the same service.
Alex Pritchard added a third in the second half after some excellent work from Dan Neil.
Broadhead got his second with a well hit left footed effort inside the box.
Dajaku added a 5th in the last few minutes.
Team news
Hoffmann, Gooch, Wright, Flanagan, Doyle, Dajaku, Neil, Winchester, Pritchard, Broadhead, Stewart
Report
Nathan Broadhead almost gave Sunderland an early lead if not for a finger tip save to send the ball past the post moments before a Bailey Wright acrobatic effort flew inches over the bar.
12 minutes in, Sunderland did take the lead. Gooch with some excellent work on the left delivering a low ball into Stewart for the Scotsman to stab into the back of the net.
Just minutes later, Sunderland doubled their lead. Gooch again with a cross on the left flank and Broadhead dispatching a well placed header.
Morecambe had an excellent chance to pull one back but missed the target from 5 yards.
A solid half for Sunderland finished 2-0
Sunderland added a third early in the second half through Alex Pritchard after Dan Neil beat his man on the byline and squared the ball into the centre.
Broadhead made it 4-0 with a well hit left footed effort inside the box.
Dajaku scored the fifth as his effort took a huge deflection and eventually bounced over the line.
It finished 5-0.
Player ratings
Hoffmann 6- Had nothing to do.
Gooch 9- Outstanding today. Excellent work for the first two goals and looked a threat throughout while being fairly solid defensively.
Wright 8- Solid throughout and generally looked comfortable going forward as well.
Flanagan 7- Defended well but decision making on the ball was poor
Doyle 7- Kept it simple and did his job well
Dajaku 7- Did the basics well and looked much more of a threat.
Neil 8- Excellent in the middle both offensively and defensively and got an assist to go with it.
Winchester 7- Steady performance from Winchester. Played the ball well and made some important challenges.
Pritchard 9- Excellent again. Very good on the ball and capped it off with a well taken goal.
Broadhead 9- Two very well taken goals and was a threat all game.
Stewart 8- Worked as hard as ever and finally got another goal to show for it.
Subs
Embleton
Kimpioka
O’Brien
