Match ends, Sunderland 3, Southend United 0.
SunderlandSunderland3SouthendSouthend United0
Sunderland moved to within three points of top spot in League One by making it four wins in a row defeating play-off chasing Southend 3-0 at the Stadium of Light.
On a cold afternoon on Wearside, the Black Cats were too hot to handle for the Shrimpers even if there were spells when the home side had defend well.
Overall though, with the exception of a couple of decent saves from Jon McLaughlin, Southend couldn't do anything about in-form Sunderland at the other end.
George Honeyman's glancing header from Lynden Gooch's cross in the 29th minute got things rolling before a Chris Maguire thunderbolt seven minutes into the second half effectively sealed the points.
There was still time for a third with 10 minutes remaining. Substitute Aiden McGeady drilled a low left-foot effort inside Mark Oxley's bottom left corner following Josh Maja's lay off.
It was a win that secured a third consecutive clean sheet and moved Sunderland to within three points of leaders Portsmouth, even though they remain in third behind Peterborough, who occupy the final automatic promotion spot.
Report supplied by Press Association.
Line-ups
Sunderland
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1McLaughlin
- 2Matthews
- 12FlanaganBooked at 45mins
- 15Baldwin
- 16James
- 6Cattermole
- 8McGeouchSubstituted forMcGeadyat 54'minutes
- 7Maguire
- 10Honeyman
- 11GoochSubstituted forO'Nienat 74'minutes
- 17SinclairSubstituted forMajaat 57'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Oviedo
- 5Ozturk
- 13O'Nien
- 19McGeady
- 20Maja
- 25Ruiter
- 37Mumba
Southend
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Oxley
- 24Demetriou
- 23Moore
- 6Turner
- 3CokerSubstituted forHendrieat 21'minutes
- 11McLaughlinSubstituted forMcCoulskyat 66'minutes
- 18Mantom
- 8Dieng
- 30BunnBooked at 41mins
- 16YearwoodBooked at 68minsSubstituted forKightlyat 78'minutes
- 10Cox
Substitutes
- 2Bwomono
- 7Kightly
- 13Bishop
- 28McCoulsky
- 31Robinson
- 32Hendrie
- 48White
- Referee:
- Robert Lewis
- Attendance:
- 30,894
Match Stats
Home TeamSunderlandAway TeamSouthend
- Possession
- Home52%
- Away48%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away6
- Corners
- Home4
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home19
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Sunderland 3, Southend United 0.
Post update
Corner, Southend United. Conceded by Tom Flanagan.
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Foul by Tom Flanagan (Sunderland).
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Shawn McCoulsky (Southend United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Taylor Moore (Southend United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
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Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Michael Turner (Southend United).
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Attempt missed. Sam Mantom (Southend United) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
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Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Michael Turner.
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Attempt blocked. Chris Maguire (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Corner, Southend United. Conceded by Jack Baldwin.
Goal!
Goal! Sunderland 3, Southend United 0. Aiden McGeady (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Josh Maja.
Post update
Foul by Lee Cattermole (Sunderland).
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Sam Mantom (Southend United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Southend United. Michael Kightly replaces Dru Yearwood.
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Attempt saved. Shawn McCoulsky (Southend United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
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Attempt missed. Lee Cattermole (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box misses to the right following a corner.
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Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Michael Turner.
Substitution
Substitution, Sunderland. Luke O'Nien replaces Lynden Gooch because of an injury.
