Sunderland suffered their first defeat of the season in the Championship as they lost 0-1 to Cardiff City at the Stadium of Light on Sunday. The result was a wake-up call for the Black Cats, who had been enjoying a five-game unbeaten run and were hoping to challenge for the top spot. However, they were undone by a late header from Mark McGuinness, who scored his first goal for the Bluebirds.
Sunderland dominated but failed to score
The hosts had the lion’s share of possession and created more chances than their opponents, but they could not find a way past Cardiff keeper Jak Alnwick, who made several crucial saves. Sunderland had 16 shots, six of them on target, compared to Cardiff’s seven shots, two of them on target. They also had four corners and forced Alnwick to make six saves, while Cardiff had four corners and only one save from Antony Patterson.
Sunderland’s best chances fell to Alex Pritchard, Jack Clarke and Patrick Roberts, but they were all denied by Alnwick or blocked by Cardiff defenders. The Black Cats also had two penalty appeals turned down by referee Darren Bond, who booked Abdoullah Ba and Niall Huggins for simulation.
Cardiff defended well and took their chance
Cardiff, on the other hand, were content to sit back and soak up the pressure, relying on their defensive solidity and aerial threat. They had only one shot on target in the first half, a tame effort from Ike Ugbo that was easily held by Patterson. They improved slightly in the second half, with Ugbo firing wide and Kion Etete testing Patterson with a low shot.
However, their decisive moment came in the 87th minute, when Ryan Wintle delivered a free-kick from the left and McGuinness rose above Ba to head home from close range. It was a cruel blow for Sunderland, who had done everything but score.
Sunderland need to learn from this setback
The defeat was a harsh lesson for Sunderland, who had been flying high after winning four of their previous five games. They had also scored 15 goals and conceded only five in their first seven games, showing their attacking prowess and defensive resilience. However, they were unable to break down a well-organised Cardiff side, who had also won their last two games.
Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray admitted that his team lacked the cutting edge and the composure to win the game. He said: “We’re disappointed because we felt we deserved more from the game. We had a lot of possession and a lot of chances, but we didn’t take them. We also gave away a soft goal from a set-piece, which is something we need to work on.”
Mowbray also praised Cardiff for their defensive performance and their clinical finish. He said: “Credit to Cardiff, they defended very well and they took their chance when it came. They are a tough team to play against, they have a lot of experience and physicality. They are one of the teams that will be up there at the end of the season.”
Sunderland will have to bounce back quickly from this setback, as they face another tough test on Wednesday when they travel to Norwich City, who are currently eighth in the table. Mowbray said: “We have to learn from this game and move on. We have another big game on Wednesday and we have to be ready for it. We have to show our character and our quality.”
Cardiff are on the rise under Bulut
Cardiff, meanwhile, are enjoying a revival under new manager Erol Bulut, who took over from Mick McCarthy in August. The Turkish coach has guided the Bluebirds to four wins in his first five games in charge, lifting them to seventh in the table. He has also improved their defensive record, as they have kept three clean sheets in a row.
Bulut was delighted with his team’s performance and result at Sunderland, saying: “It was a fantastic win for us. We knew it was going to be a difficult game against a very good team. We defended very well as a team and we scored a great goal from Mark McGuinness.”
Bulut also praised his players for their work ethic and their spirit. He said: “I’m very proud of my players. They showed a lot of character and determination. They fought for every ball and every inch of the pitch. They also showed quality when they had the ball. They are a great group of players and I’m happy to work with them.”
Cardiff will hope to continue their momentum on Wednesday when they host Blackburn Rovers, who are currently 14th in the table. Bulut said: “We have to keep working hard and keep improving. We have another important game on Wednesday and we have to be ready for it. We have to keep our focus and our confidence.”
