It has been another eventful week on Wearside. It saw Sunderland reach the last 16 of the Carabao Cup and win their fifth straight home game. There was also sad news as Black Cats legend Len Ashurst, the record holder of the most outfield appearances for the club, sadly passed away. We also have the latest Ladies and Academy news and more.
Sunderland Round-Up: Back to Winning Ways as Tributes Paid for Black Cats Legend
Progression in Carabao Cup and Fifth Straight Home Win
Sunderland progressed to the last 16 of the Carabao Cup following a 2-0 victory at League One leader’s Wigan Athletic. Head coach Lee Johnson made nine changes to the team that disappointingly let a two-goal lead slip away at Fleetwood Town.
Those that came into the team excelled as Sunderland comfortably saw off their League One rivals. Goals from Nathan Broadhead and Luke O’Nien sealed the victory. The Black Cats will travel to QPR in the last 16.
On Saturday, Johnson’s men faced a tough test at home to Bolton Wanderers, who had recently beat Ipswich Town 5-2 away from home. However, the Black Cats would extend their home winning streak to five with a 1-0 victory.
In an end to end game with both teams creating goalscoring opportunities, it was right-back Carl Winchester who would score the only goal of the game thanks to an assist from fellow fullback Dennis Cirkin.
Winchester, who is becoming a cult hero at Sunderland following his switch to right-back from midfield, has now scored three goals this season, all of which have been winning goals.
Black Cats Legend Passes Away
Blacks Cats legend Len Ashurst sadly passed away on Saturday. Ashurst made 458 appearances for Sunderland, a record for an outfield player. He also managed the club from 1984 to 1985 where he guided his team to the League Cup final. Unfortunately, they lost the final and their top division status.
Ashurst will be remembered for his no-nonsense defending at Sunderland and his managerial spells at Cardiff City and Newport County, where he led the unfancied Welsh outfit to the quarter-finals of the European Cup Winners Cup.
Ladies and Academy News
Sunderland Ladies maintained their unbeaten start to the season thanks to a late own goal to salvage a point at the Stadium of Light. The Lady Black Cats faced Lewes FC Women with the visitors taking an early lead. Sunderland fought back but found Lewes difficult to break down. The Black Cats dominated the second-half, but it took an own goal to get them back into the game and increase their unbeaten start to the season to four games.
Meanwhile, Sunderland U23’s lost out at home to North East rivals Middlesbrough at home at the beginning of last week. The youngsters fell to a 3-1 defeat. They now sit 14th in the PL2 Division 2 table. They will travel to fourth-placed Wolves on Monday looking to put their recent defeat behind them.
Goalkeeper Leaves on Loan
Young goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, who has made four first-team appearances for the club this season, has moved to National League side Notts County on a short-term loan. Patterson was challenging Lee Burge for the number one position at Sunderland; however, the arrival of German shot-stopper Thorben Hoffmann from Bayern Munich, who is now number one, has allowed the talented youngster to gain more first-team experience on loan.
Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman said: “Anthony has the potential for further development and in order to optimise that process, we believe that he requires regular exposure to first-team football. This loan move represents a great opportunity for him to acquire more minutes in a senior setting, and we look forward to observing and assessing his progress.”
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images
