Match Report: Morecambe 0 – 1 Sunderland

Sunderland secured their playoff place with a 1-0 win over Morecambe to set up a Playoff semi-final tie with Sheffield Wednesday.  

As it happened Sunderland would have finished in the playoffs even with a draw as Plymouth fell to a 5-0 defeat to third place MK Dons

Going into the game, Morecambe knew that if results went against them, they could see themselves relegated.  

However, despite the loss on the final day the Shrimps survive thanks to results around them going in their favour. Finishing 19th in League One, the highest finish in their history.  

An early Nathan Broadhead goal won the game for the Black Cats as they extended their unbeaten run to 13 under Alex Neil.  

Worryingly though for Sunderland, Broadhead had to be taken off and could miss Friday’s first leg.  

Morecambe had the first chance of the game as Jacob Bedeau headed wide following an Arthur Gnahoua corner.  

However, at the 10th-minute mark, Broadhead slid the ball past former Black Cat Trevor Carson into the bottom corner to open the scoring.  

Broadhead went off 15mins later and neither team took control in a very stop-start first half in a game that had 28 fouls.  

The first chance of the second half fell to Ross Stewart but his shot was deflected wide on the hour mark.  

Patrick Roberts had a shot saved from close range by Carson following some nice linkup play from Alex Pritchard and Elliot Embleton.  

Morecambe nearly equalised in added time when Cole Stockton’s strike was blocked by Bailey Wright.