Match ends, Bristol Rovers 0, Sunderland 2.
Bristol RoversBristol Rovers0SunderlandSunderland2
Aiden McGeady netted a fine free-kick as Sunderland boosted their chase for automatic promotion with a League One win at Bristol Rovers.
The visitors took a 25th-minute lead when McGeady's cross from the right reached Will Grigg at the far post and his volley across goal was turned in from close range by Luke O'Nien.
McGeady made the points safe on 55 minutes, finding the top corner with a perfectly-struck shot from a central position just outside the box after Liam Sercombe had been penalised for handball.
Neither side could create much in a first half that saw Alex Rodman, Gavin Reilly and Ollie Clarke fire wide for Rovers from outside the box.
Sunderland's defence, in which Tom Flanagan and Jimmy Dunne excelled, coped comfortably with some predictable attacks from their hosts and substitute Charlie Wyke missed a trio of late chances to extend the lead.
The result saw Rovers slip back into the relegation zone and on this form, they face a huge battle for survival.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Line-ups
Bristol Rovers
Formation 4-4-2
- 13Bonham
- 15J Clarke
- 4Lockyer
- 5Craig
- 3Holmes-Dennis
- 33Rodman
- 25Ogogo
- 8O ClarkeSubstituted forUpsonat 67'minutes
- 7SercombeSubstituted forNicholsat 83'minutes
- 19Clarke-Harris
- 20ReillySubstituted forJakubiakat 56'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Upson
- 10Nichols
- 17Jakubiak
- 21Smith
- 22Partington
- 24Sinclair
- 26Matthews
Sunderland
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1McLaughlin
- 13O'NienBooked at 23mins
- 30DunneBooked at 70mins
- 12Flanagan
- 16JamesBooked at 49mins
- 23Leadbitter
- 6Cattermole
- 14WatmoreSubstituted forMorganat 67'minutes
- 10Honeyman
- 19McGeadySubstituted forPowerat 83'minutes
- 22GriggSubstituted forWykeat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Matthews
- 5Ozturk
- 8McGeouch
- 9Wyke
- 17Morgan
- 25Ruiter
- 27Power
- Referee:
- James Linington
- Attendance:
- 10,009
Match Stats
Home TeamBristol RoversAway TeamSunderland
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home0
- Away2
- Corners
- Home5
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bristol Rovers 0, Sunderland 2.
Post update
Tom Nichols (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Lee Cattermole (Sunderland).
Post update
Attempt missed. Charlie Wyke (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by James Clarke.
Post update
Foul by Jonson Clarke-Harris (Bristol Rovers).
Post update
Tom Flanagan (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Charlie Wyke (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Tom Nichols replaces Liam Sercombe.
Substitution
Substitution, Sunderland. Max Power replaces Aiden McGeady.
Post update
Attempt missed. Charlie Wyke (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Post update
Abu Ogogo (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Lewis Morgan (Sunderland).
Post update
Tom Lockyer (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Sunderland. Charlie Wyke replaces William Grigg.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jonson Clarke-Harris (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt missed. Liam Sercombe (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
Post update
Jonson Clarke-Harris (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Booking
Jimmy Dunne (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
