Match ends, Sunderland 1, Lincoln City 1.
SunderlandSunderland1Lincoln CityLincoln City1
Callum Morton's second-half equaliser for Lincoln prevented Sunderland from closing the gap to the top two after a draw at the Stadium of Light.
After a tight first half with a couple of chances at both ends, Callum McFadzean was the unlikely scorer of the opening goal five minutes before the break.
That put the third-placed Black Cats on course for an eighth win from nine League One games.
But in the 63rd minute striker Morton levelled things up with a sweet finish to keep Lincoln in touch with the side sitting two points above them.
Lincoln, who had won just one of their previous seven, could have taken the lead midway through the first half when goalkeeper Lee Burge denied Regan Poole.
It proved costly when Max Power's brilliant cross from the right was headed inside Alex Palmer's bottom left corner by McFadzean.
After the restart Aiden McGeady had a free-kick saved by Palmer moments before the equaliser.
That arrived when Morton's brilliant touch away from Luke O'Nien allowed him to shoot low and beyond Burge.
Lincoln were also denied a winner when Burge saved from Cohen Bramall and then Morton later on as the game remained level.
Report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Sunderland
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Burge
- 2McLaughlinBooked at 87mins
- 16Sanderson
- 13O'Nien
- 25McFadzean
- 6PowerBooked at 42mins
- 26WinchesterSubstituted forScowenat 64'minutes
- 23LeadbitterSubstituted forStewartat 71'minutes
- 11GoochSubstituted forMaguireat 77'minutes
- 9WykeBooked at 34mins
- 28McGeady
Substitutes
- 7Maguire
- 14Scowen
- 20Matthews
- 21Diamond
- 24Neil
- 31Stewart
- 35Younger
Lincoln City
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Palmer
- 2Poole
- 4Montsma
- 5Jackson
- 15Bramall
- 7Edun
- 18McGrandles
- 23BridcuttBooked at 77mins
- 27Rogers
- 20JohnsonSubstituted forScullyat 74'minutes
- 19Morton
Substitutes
- 8Jones
- 11Scully
- 14Archibald
- 17Howarth
- 22Eyoma
- 26Anderson
- 31Long
- Referee:
- Carl Boyeson
Match Stats
Home TeamSunderlandAway TeamLincoln City
- Possession
- Home59%
- Away41%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away4
- Corners
- Home7
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home20
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Sunderland 1, Lincoln City 1.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Aiden McGeady (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Foul by Aiden McGeady (Sunderland).
Post update
Tayo Edun (Lincoln City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Lewis Montsma (Lincoln City) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Cohen Bramall with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Lincoln City. Conceded by Luke O'Nien.
Post update
Foul by Ross Stewart (Sunderland).
Post update
Lewis Montsma (Lincoln City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Morgan Rogers (Lincoln City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Anthony Scully.
Post update
Hand ball by Aiden McGeady (Sunderland).
Booking
Conor McLaughlin (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Conor McLaughlin (Sunderland).
Post update
Cohen Bramall (Lincoln City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Morgan Rogers (Lincoln City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Regan Poole with a cross.
Post update
Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Callum Morton (Lincoln City).
Post update
Attempt missed. Charlie Wyke (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Conor McLaughlin with a cross.
Post update
Hand ball by Ross Stewart (Sunderland).
Post update
Offside, Lincoln City. Cohen Bramall tries a through ball, but Callum Morton is caught offside.
