Boyce winner heaps pressure on under-fire Sunderland boss Parkinson

Sky Bet League 1

Sunderland 1-2 Burton Albion

Poor defending proved costly for Sunderland as they lost 2-1 to Burton Albion last night at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats were in front in the 19th minute when Aiden McGeady netted from the spot but Burton equalised through Ryan Edwards moments later.

The visitors later took the lead through Liam Boyce in the second half and it proved to be the winning goal.

It was a quiet opening to the game until the 18th minute when Sunderland were awarded a penalty after Luke O’Nien was brought down in the box.

McGeady stepped up and buried the ball in the bottom left corner sending Kieran O’Hara the wrong way.

However, the hosts’ lead only lasted a minute as Kieran Wallace’s shot from the left was parried by Lee Burge and Edwards headed home the rebound.

Ten minutes later, Sunderland nearly regained their lead when O’Nien’s shot was pushed wide by O’Hara.

Phil Parkinson’s side started the second half well and came relatively close in the 56th minute when Conor McLaughlin’s effort sailed over.

Burton then took the lead just over 10 minutes later when Scott Fraser put in a good ball from the left and Boyce was free at the far post to slot home.

Fraser very nearly put the game to bed in the 83rd minute hitting the crossbar.

Sunderland never really threatened in the final minutes and therefore Burton went home worthy winners.

Sunderland: Burge, C McLaughlin (Maguire 71), Lynch, Willis, Hume, Watmore, Leadbitter (Kimpioka 79), Power, McGeady, O’Nien, Grigg.

Booked: Power

Subs not used: J McLaughlin, Öztürk, Flanagan, De Bock, Sammut.

Burton Albion: O’Hara, Nartey (Daniel 71), O’Toole, Buxton, Wallace, Edwards, Quinn, Fraser, Sarkic (Templeton 65), Akins, Boyce (Brayford 90).

Booked: Quinn, Sarkic and Daniel.

Subs not used: Sbarra, Anderson, Beardsley, Garratt.

Attendance: 26,538