League One
SunderlandSunderland1NorthamptonNorthampton Town1

Sunderland 1-1 Northampton Town

Last updated on .From the section League Onecomments53

Sunderland will face Lincoln in the League One play-offs after finishing the regular season with a 1-1 draw against relegated Northampton.

The Black Cats, who finished fourth, came from behind to cancel out Sam Hoskins' 84th minute free-kick for the Cobblers by levelling three minutes later through midfielder Carl Winchester.

Now Sunderland know the Imps will travel to the Stadium of Light for the second leg of the semi-final on Saturday, May 22, for the right to head to Wembley after first meeting at Sincil Bank on Wednesday, May 19.

Sunderland struggled to find an extra gear against Northampton and chances were few and far between before half-time.

The nearest Sunderland came was when Cobblers goalkeeper Jon Mitchell tipped over Lynden Gooch's deep cross that threatened to drop under the bar.

Gooch went close again after the restart when Mitchell denied him from close range.

The best chance fell to Jordan Jones when he missed the target after lovely link-up play with substitute Aiden O'Brien.

But with six minutes remaining Northampton edged ahead when Hoskins' free-kick from 22 yards deflected off the wall and beyond Lee Burge.

The lead did not last long because Winchester was on hand from close range to level things up with his first for the club after Jones' curling effort hit both posts.

Report supplied by PA Media

Line-ups

Sunderland

Formation 4-2-2-2

  • 1Burge
  • 2McLaughlinSubstituted forMaguireat 52'minutes
  • 5WrightBooked at 83mins
  • 13O'NienBooked at 59mins
  • 33Hume
  • 6PowerSubstituted forWinchesterat 66'minutes
  • 14ScowenSubstituted forLeadbitterat 66'minutes
  • 21DiamondSubstituted forMcGeadyat 45'minutes
  • 27Jones
  • 11Gooch
  • 9WykeSubstituted forO'Brienat 66'minutes

Substitutes

  • 7Maguire
  • 10O'Brien
  • 20Matthews
  • 23Leadbitter
  • 25McFadzean
  • 26Winchester
  • 28McGeady

Northampton

Formation 4-3-3

  • 13Mitchell
  • 7Hoskins
  • 6Horsfall
  • 28Jones
  • 2Harriman
  • 17McWilliams
  • 18Morris
  • 8WatsonSubstituted forRobertsat 87'minutes
  • 45MarshallSubstituted forCrossat 79'minutes
  • 29RoseSubstituted forAshley-Sealat 86'minutes
  • 14MillerBooked at 21minsSubstituted forChukwuemekaat 76'minutes

Substitutes

  • 5Bolger
  • 10Jones
  • 19Roberts
  • 22Ashley-Seal
  • 30Chukwuemeka
  • 34Cross
  • 36Woods
Referee:
Samuel Barrott

Match Stats

Home TeamSunderlandAway TeamNorthampton
Possession
Home65%
Away35%
Shots
Home10
Away7
Shots on Target
Home4
Away1
Corners
Home8
Away6
Fouls
Home13
Away15

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Sunderland 1, Northampton Town 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Sunderland 1, Northampton Town 1.

  3. Post update

    Denver Hume (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  4. Post update

    Foul by Shaun McWilliams (Northampton Town).

  5. Post update

    Foul by Lynden Gooch (Sunderland).

  6. Post update

    Caleb Chukwuemeka (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  7. Post update

    Carl Winchester (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  8. Post update

    Foul by Benny Ashley-Seal (Northampton Town).

  9. Goal!

    Goal! Sunderland 1, Northampton Town 1. Carl Winchester (Sunderland) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner.

  10. Substitution

    Substitution, Northampton Town. Morgan Roberts replaces Ryan Watson.

  11. Substitution

    Substitution, Northampton Town. Benny Ashley-Seal replaces Danny Rose.

  12. Post update

    Denver Hume (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Liam Cross (Northampton Town).

  14. Goal!

    Goal! Sunderland 0, Northampton Town 1. Sam Hoskins (Northampton Town) from a free kick with a right footed shot to the top left corner.

  15. Booking

    Bailey Wright (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  16. Post update

    Foul by Bailey Wright (Sunderland).

  17. Post update

    Caleb Chukwuemeka (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  18. Post update

    Attempt saved. Chris Maguire (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, Northampton Town. Liam Cross replaces Mark Marshall.

  20. Post update

    Attempt missed. Jordan Jones (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Aiden O'Brien.

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53 comments

  • Comment posted by pragueimp, at 15:54 9 May

    Difficult to call over two legs.
    Sunderland only lost 9 games all season.
    But we have had some key players come back after injury.

    Blackpool and Oxford both on great runs, and the winner of that should be favourite in the final. But...

  • Comment posted by makemaf, at 18:01 9 May

    Must agree with Bellster. No chance in play offs after struggling against three of the relegated teams and beaten twice by Blackpool. Then, I'm afraid Mr Johnson will have to go, if only because of his costly blind devotion to Josh Scowen, and inexplicable benching of Chris Maguire. Still, no excuses. Apart from McGeady and O'Nien the rest of the squad are only League Two standard at best.

  • Comment posted by Terry, at 18:33 9 May

    Massive choke last ten games again. Need to move on those who freeze in a league one big game. If not and get promoted how will they cope against big teams like preston and stoke

  • Comment posted by Torieradicator, at 16:17 9 May

    If Sunderland manage promotion via the playoffs how the heck will they cope against big proper clubs like Stoke, Birmingham and Cardiff? Straight back down to their "Punching above their weight" 3rd level with National League beckoning.

    • Reply posted by PB, at 16:47 9 May

      PB replied:
      You're right. First find the gumption to see off Lincoln who only came up this season and are no mugs. Then beat either Blackpool or Oxford. Worst form of the 4 going into the playoffs, can't even see off already-relegated Northampton at home. Still, can only hope we go a step further than the last playoffs we were in and that our new owner gives us the opportunities to compete up a level.

  • Comment posted by michael, at 07:59 10 May

    I wonder if Donald still thinks Sunderland are bigger than newcastle🤔🤔🤣

    • Reply posted by SCDFanatic, at 18:12 10 May

      SCDFanatic replied:
      I think the mags gave up the right to call themselves a big club when they allowed themselves to enter talks with businessmen with a dubious reputation.

  • Comment posted by Griffin, at 22:51 9 May

    Nowt against Lincoln, but come on Sunderland, what are you doing down there for so long, you should be in the Premiership .... Leeds fan.

    • Reply posted by SCDFanatic, at 06:45 10 May

      SCDFanatic replied:
      Thanks. Means a lot finally reading a supportive comment. Only those who’ve lived through what we are can talk about us. To those with selective amnesia we are struggling in L1 because Ellis Short and Stewart Donald ruined us more than you could ever do with your meaningless, hurtful, inane, childish twaddle. It’s time what KLD and LJ have done so far to get us on course again got more credit.

  • Comment posted by Bellster , at 17:07 9 May

    Sunderland are so bad it's funny

    • Reply posted by SCDFanatic, at 17:14 9 May

      SCDFanatic replied:
      Says the “football fan” who comes out with that. Pots and kettles.

  • Comment posted by Back Of The Net, at 21:18 9 May

    I always called them the sketchers, minutes away from been beat off a side at home that has already been relegated 😂😂😂 SAFC 2 relegations in a row, looking like 4 on a row in league one, it’s funny a few weeks back they were adamant the derby was on next season 😂😂😂

    • Reply posted by Dyno76, at 21:24 9 May

      Dyno76 replied:
      You lot were adamant as well.

  • Comment posted by HarleyD, at 20:15 9 May

    Conceited Sunderland. They think they should get promoted even with an average squad of mediocre. We'll soon see in the play offs Mr Mackem.

    • Reply posted by Dyno76, at 21:25 9 May

      Dyno76 replied:
      Nobody thinks we should promoted....Most SAFC fans can't believe that heap of players we've got made the play offs....Proves how awful the standard in league 1 is.

  • Comment posted by ericb1950, at 18:53 9 May

    SAFC don't need to win any more games. Three draws and two penalty shoot out wins should do it.

    • Reply posted by ericb1950, at 19:51 9 May

      ericb1950 replied:
      Furthermore there will be 10000 fans at SoL. Barely 2500 at Sincil Bank. Huge advantage

  • Comment posted by FISCHER1972, at 18:04 9 May

    Plenty of fans looking forward to following the playoffs from East Yorkshire. Such contests are a lottery but at least four clubs have a ticket.

  • Comment posted by sense, at 15:47 9 May

    Lincoln v blackpool final for me. Too many draws for slumberland this season, not a very entertaining team to watch. Blaming the referee for the whole season is delusional

  • Comment posted by nodnol, at 15:17 9 May

    If only Charlton could have sneaked in the play offs and then a Sunderland vs Charlton final , them games always give entertainment!!

  • Comment posted by ellis , at 17:58 9 May

    sunderland are very close to the sea , but sadly sunk years ago
    best hope for black cat fans is the new young multi rich owner .
    remember 35000 - 46000 gates

    • Reply posted by SCDFanatic, at 19:39 9 May

      SCDFanatic replied:
      Does your club have a young, ambitious, rich owner?

  • Comment posted by bobby smith, at 15:08 9 May

    Should be a cracker Sunderland v Lincoln Sunderland will win

    • Reply posted by Spilled-wine-on-costly-sofa, at 15:45 9 May

      Spilled-wine-on-costly-sofa replied:
      Oh dear Sunderland drew again! SunDRWAland make that! Can't get promoted drawing most of your games! I don't believe SunDRWAland will get promoted via playoffs either! They will only do it automatically. One more year in L1.

  • Comment posted by Telegram Sam, at 15:07 9 May

    Sunderland v Blackpool in play off final. Lincoln no chance against Sunderland.

    • Reply posted by 4622steve, at 15:12 9 May

      4622steve replied:
      We will see!

  • Comment posted by simonk, at 15:27 9 May

    Sunderland have had bad decisions go against them all season. Today was no exception. If the refereeing had been anything like fair they’d have won the league. Absolutely disgraceful. Obviously they’ll win the play offs.

    • Reply posted by johnkaysleftleg, at 15:39 9 May

      johnkaysleftleg replied:
      Nothing to do with referees, we haven't been good enough. 1 win in 9 and no clean sheet in 10. Limping into the playoffs, Lincoln must be rubbing their hands at playing us.

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Hull462781180384289
2Peterborough462691183463787
3Blackpool4623111260372380
4Sunderland462017970422877
5Lincoln City4622111369501977
6Oxford Utd462281677562174
7Charlton4620141270561474
8Portsmouth462191665511472
9Ipswich461912154646069
10Gillingham461910176360367
11Accrington461813156368-567
12Crewe461812165661-566
13MK Dons461811176462265
14Doncaster46197206367-464
15Fleetwood461612184946360
16Burton461512196173-1257
17Shrewsbury461315185057-754
18Plymouth461411215380-2753
19Wimbledon461215195470-1651
20Wigan46139245477-2348
21Rochdale461114216178-1747
22Northampton461112234167-2645
23Swindon46134295589-3443
24Bristol Rovers46108284070-3038
View full League One table

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