Michael Chopra punished Stewart Downing's penalty miss as Sunderland snatched a 2-0 Premier League win at home to Middlesbrough. More
90+4' All over! Sunderland claim three points and Michael Chopra is back!
90+2' GOAL!!! Sunderland finish off with a slice of luck. A deflected Murphy shot falls to the unmarked Malbranque, who slides the ball for Chopra to finish into the empty net.
85' Great move by Middlesbrough! They work it into the box and it is knocked down for Downing, whose shot is blocked by Nyron Nosworthy.
84' Blimey, another booking. Chopra sees yellow, then has another header well saved by Turnbull.
81' GOAL!!! Michael Chopra gives Sunderland the lead!!! He exchanges neat passes with Richardson and finishes low into the left corner!
80' Another yellow - this time to Robert Huth.
78' Yellow card Shawky and a chance for Reid to deliver into the box. Caught by Turnbull.
76' Daryl Murphy has the ball in the net but he has already been flagged well offside.
75' Downing.... OVER!!! He powers the ball over the top, and that is his second missed penalty in a row!
74' PENALTY!!! JEREMIE ALIADIERE WINS IT!! He was running away from goal and there was a tangle of legs with Nosworthy, but that looks very harsh on Sunderland.
71' Richardson jumps into Shawky and that's a yellow card.
71' Richardson!! He smacks a 25-yarder towards goal, and Turnbull makes a fine save.
69' A glut of substitutions, none of them very exciting. Hoyte and Shawky are on for Middlesbrough, Reid and Murphy for Sunderland.
62' Boro are still struggling after that Turnbull cock-up and O'Neil is forced to commit a cynical foul. Yellow card.
62' What a blunder by Turnbull!! He saves a Malbranque shot but fumbles as he attempts to roll the ball out. Diouf dispossesses him but two defenders are back on the line and the eventual shot is blocked.
46' Middlesbrough kick the second half off - no changes from either side. It will be interesting to see where Chopra plays, of whether Diouf shifts to the right flank.
46' Half-time at the Stadium of Light, no goals. But a decent game nonetheless.
45' Teemu Tainio is struggling with injury and will have to come off. Roy Keane makes a positive change, bringing on Michael Chopra.
38' Boro come away on the break with Johnson, who slides it through to ALVES!! Straight at Gordon!
23' Cisse gets away from his marker to head goalwards from eight yards and Turnbull pulls off a spectacular save!! But the flag has already gone up against the Frenchman - offside.
21' The ball is played to the edge of the box for Cisse, who takes a touch before shooting and his effort is blocked. Should have hit it first time - although that's easy for me to say...
19' Alves hits a free-kick from the left corner of the box. It hits Diouf and falls for DOWNING!!! He shoots low and hard but it is straight at Gordon!
9' A Middlesbrough corner is allowed to bounce and gets as far as Wheater, who fires an off-balance shot well over!
1' Game on! Sunderland get the game under way at a slightly subdued Stadium of Light. The crowd still wearing the effects of last night.. Sunderland in red and white stripes, Boro in their blue-and-black Inter Milan mode.
- Afonso Alves plays up front on his own for Boro. Mido was supposed to start, with Alves on the bench, but Mido was injured in the warm-up and drops out of the squad altogether.
- Welcome to LIVE coverage of Sunderland v Middlesbrough from the Stadium of Light!
90+2' GOAL!!! Sunderland finish off with a slice of luck. A deflected Murphy shot falls to the unmarked Malbranque, who slides the ball for Chopra to finish into the empty net.
85' Great move by Middlesbrough! They work it into the box and it is knocked down for Downing, whose shot is blocked by Nyron Nosworthy.
81' GOAL!!! Michael Chopra gives Sunderland the lead!!! He exchanges neat passes with Richardson and finishes low into the left corner!
75' Downing.... OVER!!! He powers the ball over the top, and that is his second missed penalty in a row!
74' PENALTY!!! JEREMIE ALIADIERE WINS IT!! He was running away from goal and there was a tangle of legs with Nosworthy, but that looks very harsh on Sunderland.
71' Richardson!! He smacks a 25-yarder towards goal, and Turnbull makes a fine save.
62' What a blunder by Turnbull!! He saves a Malbranque shot but fumbles as he attempts to roll the ball out. Diouf dispossesses him but two defenders are back on the line and the eventual shot is blocked.
38' Boro come away on the break with Johnson, who slides it through to ALVES!! Straight at Gordon!
21' The ball is played to the edge of the box for Cisse, who takes a touch before shooting and his effort is blocked. Should have hit it first time - although that's easy for me to say...
19' Alves hits a free-kick from the left corner of the box. It hits Diouf and falls for DOWNING!!! He shoots low and hard but it is straight at Gordon!
9' A Middlesbrough corner is allowed to bounce and gets as far as Wheater, who fires an off-balance shot well over!
- Welcome to LIVE coverage of Sunderland v Middlesbrough from the Stadium of Light!
SunderlandCaptain: Dean Whitehead
Middlesbrough
69′
45′
×2
69′
68′