AliousSunderland hosted Cardiff City at the Stadium of Light for a Championship fixture on Saturday afternoon, with plenty of key moments emerging before, during, and after the match.
Sunderland Continue Winning Run
The Black Cats secured consecutive league victories following their 2-1 triumph over Sheffield Wednesday, with Chris Mepham’s goal proving decisive. Eliezer Mayenda had given Sunderland an early lead, only for Isaak Davies to equalize with a well-taken half-volley before the hosts ultimately clinched the win.
Sunderland Reaches Historic Milestone
The game against Cardiff City marked Sunderland’s 5,000th home league fixture—a significant landmark in the club’s history. The Black Cats’ first-ever home league match dates back to September 13, 1890, against Burnley at Newcastle Road, their ground before moving to Roker Park.
By hitting the 5,000-game mark, Sunderland became just the 14th club to reach this milestone, joining the likes of Barnsley and Nottingham Forest, who also achieved the feat this season. Preston North End was the first team to reach this total in 2020, with other clubs such as Burnley, Wolves, Bolton, and West Brom also on the list.
To commemorate the occasion, EFL chairman Trevor Birch joined Sunderland’s Chief Business Officer David Bruce on the pitch before kickoff. The home fans further honored the milestone by unveiling a display in the East Stand as the players emerged from the tunnel.
Another individual recognized before the match was Luke O’Nien, who was presented with an award by Birch and Bruce for making his 300th Sunderland appearance in the previous game against Sheffield Wednesday. The Cardiff City fixture marked his 301st game for the club, cementing his place as the player with the most appearances at the Stadium of Light.
Jobe Bellingham Makes Championship History
Before kickoff, Jobe Bellingham reached a unique milestone by becoming the first player born after August 7, 2004—the date of the first rebranded Championship match—to make 100 league appearances in the competition. The Cardiff clash was his 101st second-tier outing.
The 19-year-old midfielder made his 32nd league appearance of the season for Sunderland and played 45 times in the Championship during the 2023-24 campaign. In total, Bellingham has now featured in 77 league matches for the Black Cats, plus two additional cup appearances, taking his overall tally to 79 games.
Régis Le Bris’ Surprise Squad Selection
Sunderland boss Régis Le Bris named an unchanged starting XI for the match against Cardiff City, but there was an unexpected inclusion in the matchday squad, with defender Joe Anderson making a return.
Le Bris rewarded Eliezer Mayenda for his match-winning performance against Sheffield Wednesday by keeping him in the lineup, while Wilson Isidor remained on the bench. Leo Hjelde and Alan Browne also retained their places in the side, with Dennis Cirkin and Chris Rigg among the substitutes.
Another notable selection was young winger Tommy Watson, who was included in the squad for the first time since suffering a serious injury in December. Watson replaced Romaine Mundle in the second half when the score was level at 1-1. Le Bris had previously mentioned that he would reintegrate both Watson and Mundle into the team gradually as they regained full fitness.
Injury Setbacks for Sunderland
Sunderland suffered a double injury blow, with Salis Abdul Samed missing the match due to an issue expected to sideline him for up to five weeks. Trey Ogunsuyi was also absent, as he was being rested ahead of Sunderland U21s’ upcoming Premier League 2 Cup clash against Burnley.
Further misfortune struck just 23 minutes into the match when Patrick Roberts—who had assisted Mayenda’s early goal—was forced off with an injury. The winger, who previously played for Manchester City and Celtic, was replaced by Chris Rigg. Post-match, Le Bris downplayed the severity of the injury but stated that the club would assess Roberts’ condition after he experienced tightness.
Sunderland Strengthen Play-Off Position
The Black Cats’ victory over Cardiff City helped them solidify their standing in the Championship play-off race. Le Bris’ men moved 15 points clear of seventh-placed Bristol City, making it highly unlikely that they will drop out of the play-off spots.
However, in the race for automatic promotion, Sunderland remains eight points behind second-placed Sheffield United, who defeated Preston North End on the same day. Leeds United still had a chance to widen the gap even further when they faced Portsmouth on Sunday—a match that, if won, would see Leeds extend their lead over Sunderland to 11 points at the top of the table.
Cardiff City Boss Shows Class in Press Conference
Following the match, Cardiff City manager Omer Riza addressed the media at the Stadium of Light, confirming that Aaron Ramsey had been left out of the squad as he continues his recovery from a long-term injury.
Riza acknowledged Sunderland’s quality as a youthful, talented team but felt his side had done enough to earn a draw. However, in an off-camera moment after the press conference, the 45-year-old displayed a touch of class by wishing Sunderland well for the remainder of the season—something not every visiting manager does at the Stadium of Light.
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