SUNDERLAND breezed their way to a comfortable victory against Doncaster Rovers winning 3-0 at the Keepmoat Stadium. 

A Ross Stewart penalty, an Elliot Embleton strike and a Ben Blythe own goal extended the Back Cats unbeaten run to eight games and sent them up to second in the League One table. 

Digital Sports Writer Matty Jones watched the game in Yorkshire and scored the players performaces...

Sunderland XI:

6 Hoffman – He didn’t have much to do but weathered through a mini Doncaster spell.

7 Gooch – Showed his versatility once again at full-back and played a big part for the assist for the third goal.

6 Wright – A steady game for the Australian at right-back and kept things tight.

7 Flanagan – His aerial ability can barely be matched in this division and showed quick thinking playing the ball for the second goal.

6 Doyle – He didn’t have a lot to do but played out from the back well.

8 Dajaku – The pacy winger caused so many problems for the Doncaster defence and set the game alight winning a penalty for the first goal.

7 Evans – Breezed through the game and kept things ticking over in midfield.

8 Neil – Showed complete control and comfort on the ball as always a produced another performance well beyond his years.

8 Embleton – The midfielder had one of his best games for a while with some menacing work in attack and got his goal.

8 Pritchard – He was at the heart of everything for Sunderland showed quality and poise in the attacking areas.

6 Stewart – Caused the Doncaster defence problems and took his penalty well.

Subs:

6 Cirkin 57’ – A solid return to the team for the full-back who got up and down the left.

6 Hume 74’ – Thought he had scored within a minute of coming on but effort was ruled out for offside.

N/A Harris 82’

Subs not used: Burge, Alves, Younger, Kimpioka

Doncaster: Jones 5, Knoyle 5, Olowu 4, Rowe 5, Smith 6, Hiwula 6, Dodoo 5 (Barlow 75’), Horton 4, Hasani 4 (Bogle 45’), Blythe 3, Ravenhill 5 (Gardner 61’)

Subs not used: Dahlberg, Williams, Cukur, Faulkner

Man of the match: Alex Pritchard – There was plenty of contenders but he ran the show for Sunderland.

Goals: Stewart pen 7’ (sent the keeper the wrong way stroking into the bottom left corner) Embleton 41’ (a low strike underneath the keeper after a quick thinking move), Blythe OG 51’ (Pritchard’s flick deflected off the defender)

Bookings: Gardner 83’ (late sliding challenge on Embleton), Doyle 88’ (time wasting by throwing the ball into the crowd)

Referee: Bobby Madley – Not the best on some decisions but gave a clear cut penalty in the first half.

Attendance: 10,751

Entertainment: ***