Match ends, Sunderland 1, Bradford City 0.
SunderlandSunderland1BradfordBradford City0
Sunderland players showed character in front of a season's best English Football League crowd of 46,039 to register a 1-0 League One victory against Bradford City, says manager Jack Ross.
It was the third highest attendance for a match in England on Wednesday - including Premier League fixtures - and bigger than any other EFL game in 2018-19, including November's local derby between Aston Villa and Birmingham City.
The last time Sunderland registered a bigger crowd was with the visit of Liverpool in January 2017, when 46,494 were at the Stadium of Light.
Former Celtic and Everton winger Aiden McGeady's goal won the match, swooping after Josh Maja's initial effort had been denied.
However, Bradford had a goal ruled out when Jack Payne's effort appeared to cross the line but was not given.
"The turnout today was incredible," Ross said. "It's testament to a fantastic football club, it does bring a lot of expectation and pressure and you have to have a group of players that will embrace that.
"The players took that responsibility today.
"It's the reasons that we put up with the rubbish days, the bad days and the sacrifices, to play in occasions like this. It'd be brilliant. I'm pleased the result came as a positive today."
Only Manchester United and Liverpool attracted more supporters in the Premier League than Sunderland.
Even second-placed Tottenham - whose attendances at Wembley are capped at 51,000 because of restrictions - were just short, with 45,154 at their 5-0 win against Bournemouth.
'If that's a stroke of luck for us then we deserve it'
Struggling Bradford remain 21st and in the relegation places after Wednesday's loss, while three points for the Black Cats keeps up their pursuit of Portsmouth and Luton in the top two.
They might have had to settle for a point if Payne's goal had been awarded, but the Wearsiders bounced back from defeat by Portsmouth last time out with a 13th win in 22 games.
"I think we have to be careful, there's a tendency at this club to always accentuate the things that didn't go well," Ross continued.
"We were good today, we should have had the game more comfortable and if that's a stroke of luck for us then we deserve it.
"Things at times haven't gone our way and we've had to dig ourselves out of trouble.
"It's right to mention it because it would have had a bearing on the result but I thought we played in a manner that was a reward for the people who came."
Line-ups
Sunderland
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1McLaughlin
- 13O'Nien
- 12FlanaganBooked at 74mins
- 15Baldwin
- 3OviedoBooked at 90mins
- 27Power
- 6Cattermole
- 11GoochBooked at 61minsSubstituted forWykeat 84'minutes
- 19McGeady
- 7MaguireSubstituted forMcGeouchat 87'minutes
- 20MajaSubstituted forWatmoreat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Ozturk
- 8McGeouch
- 9Wyke
- 14Watmore
- 16James
- 17Sinclair
- 25Ruiter
Bradford
Formation 4-4-2
- 1O'Donnell
- 38CaddisBooked at 90mins
- 22Knight-Percival
- 4McGowan
- 3ChicksenBooked at 62minsSubstituted forO'Connorat 88'minutes
- 10PayneBooked at 67mins
- 21AkpanSubstituted forBrunkerat 85'minutes
- 39O'Brien
- 40Ball
- 9DoyleSubstituted forO'Brienat 80'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 12Miller
Substitutes
- 5O'Brien
- 6O'Connor
- 13Wilson
- 18Brunker
- 23Wood
- 24Devine
- 37Goldthorp
- Referee:
- Darren England
- Attendance:
- 46,039
Match Stats
Home TeamSunderlandAway TeamBradford
- Possession
- Home62%
- Away38%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away2
- Corners
- Home9
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away18
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Sunderland 1, Bradford City 0.
Booking
Jim O'Brien (Bradford City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Duncan Watmore (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jim O'Brien (Bradford City).
Booking
Bryan Oviedo (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Paul Caddis (Bradford City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Duncan Watmore (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Paul Caddis (Bradford City).
Post update
Foul by Charlie Wyke (Sunderland).
Post update
Paul Caddis (Bradford City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Richard O'Donnell.
Post update
Attempt saved. Duncan Watmore (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Post update
Max Power (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Jim O'Brien (Bradford City).
Substitution
Substitution, Bradford City. Anthony O'Connor replaces Adam Chicksen.
Substitution
Substitution, Sunderland. Dylan McGeouch replaces Chris Maguire.
Post update
Bryan Oviedo (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by David Ball (Bradford City).
Post update
Foul by Charlie Wyke (Sunderland).
