Sunderland 1-0 Reading: Patrick Roberts seals three points for Black Cats
- Published
- comments
Patrick Roberts' goal was his fourth of the season for Sunderland
Patrick Roberts' late winner saved Sunderland from a frustrating afternoon at the Stadium of Light as they eventually found a way past Reading.
After failing to finish a number of chances, Roberts eventually struck with six minutes remaining to keep Tony Mowbray's side firmly in touch with the top six.
Roberts played a one-two with Trai Hume down the right and drove into the penalty area before firing home with his left foot.
It brought heady relief for the home side who for much of the game, could not produce a goal despite their dominance.
Sunderland's best chance before the goal fell to Joe Gelhardt, who was slipped in on goal by Edouard Michut.
The Leeds loanee went for the near post, but Royals goalkeeper Joe Lumley made a good save down to his right.
It mattered not in the end as Sunderland moved up to seventh with their sixth home win of the season and just a point outside the play-off places.
Reading looked like taking a hard-earned point back to Berkshire before Roberts' late strike but slip to 18th, nine points above the bottom three.
They started the game with the third-worst away record in the Championship and set out to disrupt Sunderland's rhythm.
It largely worked during the first half but the home side began to crave out chances after the break.
Aji Alese was found by Roberts who shot over, Hume was sent into space down the left but his shot was beaten away by the Reading keeper and Michut picked up a loose ball after a poor punch by Lumley but fired over.