Sunderland AFC 5-0 Morecambe
Tuesday 7 December
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Stadium of Light
Sky Bet League One
Attendance: 26,516
A clinical attacking display from from Sunderland saw Stephen Robinson’s side fall to a 5-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light.
In what was a comfortable victory for Lee Johnson’s side, the hosts dominated large parts of the game, with goals from Nathan Broadhead, Ross Stewart, Alex Pritchard and Leon Dajaku.
Sunderland took the lead on 13 minutes as Gooch played a low ball into the area to Ross Stewart who finished from five yards for his 11th goal of the season.
The home side doubled their lead five minutes later as Gooch again found space to cross into the box for an unmarked Nathan Broadhead to head home.
Morecambe almost found a way back into the game through Aaron Wildig who squandered the Shrimps’ best chance of the night, firing over from six yards. The midfielder timed his run at the back post perfectly to meet Alfie McCalmont’s inch-perfect cross, but saw his half-volley clear the crossbar from close range.
Minutes later Greg Leigh played a ball across the box for Cole Stockton to tap in from six yards, but the League One top scorer was pulled back for offside.
Despite Morecambe threatening on the break, a clinical Sunderland continued to dominate possession. Gooch regularly caused the Shrimps’ defence problems down the left and forced Kyle Letheren into a good save shortly before half-time to keep the deficit at two.
Half-time: Sunderland 2-0 Morecambe
The Shrimps came out strong in the second half and showed glimpses of quality in the early exchanges. Robinson’s side went close through substitute Toumani Diagouraga who met Stockton’s ball across the box, but his first-time effort was just wide of the post.
Stockton threatened minutes later but saw his effort from the edge of the area blocked, before Sunderland added a third. As Daniel Neil broke down the right, he cut the ball back for Alex Pritchard whose first-time shot from inside the area beat Letheren.
It wasn’t long before Lee Johnson’s side added a fourth and Broadhead added his second. Twisting and turning in the box, the striker found space to get his shot away, firing low into the bottom corner.
Stockton again went close again for the Shrimps minutes later, but his low, curling effort was just wide of the post.
With a few minutes left on the clock, Sunderland added a fifth as Leon Dajaku cut inside from the right before shooting with his left. His effort took a huge deflection and Letheren could only watch as the ball bounced in off the underside of the crossbar.
Full-time: Sunderland 5-0 Morecambe
Sunderland AFC: Hoffmann, Flanagan, Doyle, Dajaku, Broadhead (Kimpioka 75’), Gooch, Stewart (O’Brien 75’), Winchester (Embleton 58’), Pritchard, Neil, Wright (c)
Subs not used: Patterson, Alves, Younger, Dunne,
Goals: Stewart 13’, Broadhead 17’, 68’, Pritchard 56’, Dajaku 87’
Bookings: None
Red cards: None
Morecambe: Letheren, McLaughlin, Leigh, O’Connor (c), Jones (Diagouraga 46’), Stockton, Wildig (Phillips 64’), Delaney, Ayunga, McCalmont, Gnahoua (Duffus 46’)
Subs not used: Andrésson, McDonald, Cooney, Wootton
Goals: None
Bookings: Ayunga 71’
Red cards: None