Full-Time: SUNDERLAND 2-0 MIDDLESBROUGH. Sunderland take the three points thanks to those two late goals from substitute Chopra. Boro will feel hard done by after playing well but the missed penalty from Downing was the turning point.
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That has sealed it for Sunderland but Boro will feel hard done by and don't deserve to lose this 2-0
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Goal
SUNDERLAND 2-0 MIDDLESBROUGH. Malbranque finds CHOPRA and he scores Sunderland's second in stoppage time
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Three minutes of stoppage time are added
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Nosworthy has blocked two good efforts from Boro now late on
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Taylor's effort is blocked again by Nosworthy as Boro do all they can to find an equaliser but time is running out
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Chopra almost makes it 2-0 but his header saved well by Turnbull
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Nosworthy blocks Taylor's close-range effort
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Yellow Card
Chopra was booked just after the goal
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Goal
SUNDERLAND 1-0 MIDDLESBROUGH. Richardson finds CHOPRA and the substitute slots past Turnbull to put Sunderland in front late on
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Yellow Card
Robert Huth goes into the book for Boro.
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Yellow Card
Yellow card this time for Shawky after he fouls Chimbonda
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It looked a harsh decision for the pen but Boro wasted it anyway
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Downing blasts a penalty over the bar after Aliadiere is fouled in the box. Wonderful chance of a goal wasted by the Boro winger
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Richardson's drive is superbly tipped over by Turnbull. Both keepers have made great saves to keep the score 0-0
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Yellow Card
Richardson is shown a yellow card for a foul on Shawky
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Substitution
Johnson goes off as well and is replaced by Justin Hoyte for the visitors
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Substitution
Andy Reid replaces Cisse for the home side too
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Substitution
Daryl Murphy comes on for Diouf as several changes are made
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Substitution
Digard is replaced by Mohamed Shawky for Boro
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Chopra's shot is wide before Downing's effort at the other end is well blocked - the game seems to be opening up
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Yellow Card
O'Neil is booked for a trip on Diouf
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A mistake in the Boro defence presents Cisse with a great chance but somehow the visitors clear it off the line
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Malbranque's strike is comfortable for Turnbull, an hour gone at the Stadium of Light and still it's goalless
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Ferdinand was forced off for treatment after picking up a knock but he's back on the pitch now
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Sunderland break forward through Chopra, who's been lively since coming on, and he finds Richardson but the midfielder's shot is high over the bar
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Alves is again denied by another good save from Gordon
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Chimbonda almost gets on the end of a loose ball at the other end but Robert Huth defends well to deny him
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Pascal Chimbonda is forced to turn the ball behind for a corner as Boro attack again
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Cisse's cross-shot flies well over the bar
Second half
The second half gets underway
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Substitution
Teemu Tainio has picked up a shoulder injury and is replaced by Michael Chopra
Half time
Half-Time: SUNDERLAND 0-0 MIDDLESBROUGH. It's goalless at the break but Boro have had the better of it with Alves and Downing forcing Gordon into two superb saves.
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Aliadiere turns and shoots but his shot is weak and it's easy for Gordon
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Cisse shoots low but Turnbull is behind it
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Approaching half time and Boro will be disappointed not to be in front
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Alves calls Gordon into action again as the Sunderland keeper makes another fine save
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Kieran Richardson has a shot blocked by Huth, better from the home side
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Cisse fires the ball across the face of the box but it's cleared well by Wheater
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Boro have been impressive so far while the Black Cats' performance can be described as scrappy at best
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Malbranque works a bit of space well and then tries to thread the ball through for Cisse but Turnbull comes out to gather
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Wheater fouls Malbranque but is not booked. He could have easily been shown a yellow for that
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Downing's cross is met by Aliadiere but he directs the ball wide. Another decent opening for Boro though
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Cisse heads the ball goalwards from Steed Malbranque's cross but Ross Turnbull saves well - the Sunderland striker was offside anyway
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Cisse is looking Sunderland's best outlet as he sees his shot deflected wide
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The visitors are much the better side and that Downing effort was the best chance of the game so far
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Alves' initial shot is blocked before Downing forces Craig Gordon into a fine save with the rebound
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Adam Johnson wins a free-kick on the left as Boro continue to look the more likely scorers
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Boro have had the better of the game so far but they haven't really been able to carve out any decent chances
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El Hadji Diouf does well for Sunderland and wins a corner but Boro manage to clear
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Alves manages to work a bit of space in the box but is eventually crowded out
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Djibril Cisse pulls a shot wide from distance at the other end
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Alves wins a corner after Ferdinand puts the ball behind but Boro can't make anything of it
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Jeremie Aliadiere's shot is blocked as Boro make the early running in the game
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Stewart Downing gets a bit of space down the left but his cross is poor
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Didier Digard fires the first shot on goal from the edge of the area but it's over the bar
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It's been a tentative opening to the game but it's a decent atmosphere inside the stadium
Kickoff
The clash at the Stadium of Light gets underway
Awaiting Kickoff
Sunderland are unchanged so Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney make their home debuts. Boro striker Mido has injured himself in the warm-up so Afonso Alves starts, Adam Johnson, David Wheater and Andrew Taylor all also come in.
Sunderland
Middlesbrough
Full time
Full-Time: SUNDERLAND 2-0 MIDDLESBROUGH. Sunderland take the three points thanks to those two late goals from substitute Chopra. Boro will feel hard done by after playing well but the missed penalty from Downing was the turning point.
That has sealed it for Sunderland but Boro will feel hard done by and don't deserve to lose this 2-0
Goal
SUNDERLAND 2-0 MIDDLESBROUGH. Malbranque finds CHOPRA and he scores Sunderland's second in stoppage time
Three minutes of stoppage time are added
Nosworthy has blocked two good efforts from Boro now late on
Taylor's effort is blocked again by Nosworthy as Boro do all they can to find an equaliser but time is running out
Chopra almost makes it 2-0 but his header saved well by Turnbull
Nosworthy blocks Taylor's close-range effort
Yellow Card
Chopra was booked just after the goal
Goal
SUNDERLAND 1-0 MIDDLESBROUGH. Richardson finds CHOPRA and the substitute slots past Turnbull to put Sunderland in front late on
Yellow Card
Robert Huth goes into the book for Boro.
Yellow Card
Yellow card this time for Shawky after he fouls Chimbonda
It looked a harsh decision for the pen but Boro wasted it anyway
Downing blasts a penalty over the bar after Aliadiere is fouled in the box. Wonderful chance of a goal wasted by the Boro winger
Richardson's drive is superbly tipped over by Turnbull. Both keepers have made great saves to keep the score 0-0
Yellow Card
Richardson is shown a yellow card for a foul on Shawky
Substitution
Johnson goes off as well and is replaced by Justin Hoyte for the visitors
Substitution
Andy Reid replaces Cisse for the home side too
Substitution
Daryl Murphy comes on for Diouf as several changes are made
Substitution
Digard is replaced by Mohamed Shawky for Boro
Chopra's shot is wide before Downing's effort at the other end is well blocked - the game seems to be opening up
Yellow Card
O'Neil is booked for a trip on Diouf
A mistake in the Boro defence presents Cisse with a great chance but somehow the visitors clear it off the line
Malbranque's strike is comfortable for Turnbull, an hour gone at the Stadium of Light and still it's goalless
Ferdinand was forced off for treatment after picking up a knock but he's back on the pitch now
Sunderland break forward through Chopra, who's been lively since coming on, and he finds Richardson but the midfielder's shot is high over the bar
Alves is again denied by another good save from Gordon
Chimbonda almost gets on the end of a loose ball at the other end but Robert Huth defends well to deny him
Pascal Chimbonda is forced to turn the ball behind for a corner as Boro attack again
Cisse's cross-shot flies well over the bar
Second half
The second half gets underway
Substitution
Teemu Tainio has picked up a shoulder injury and is replaced by Michael Chopra
Half time
Half-Time: SUNDERLAND 0-0 MIDDLESBROUGH. It's goalless at the break but Boro have had the better of it with Alves and Downing forcing Gordon into two superb saves.
Aliadiere turns and shoots but his shot is weak and it's easy for Gordon
Cisse shoots low but Turnbull is behind it
Approaching half time and Boro will be disappointed not to be in front
Alves calls Gordon into action again as the Sunderland keeper makes another fine save
Kieran Richardson has a shot blocked by Huth, better from the home side
Cisse fires the ball across the face of the box but it's cleared well by Wheater
Boro have been impressive so far while the Black Cats' performance can be described as scrappy at best
Malbranque works a bit of space well and then tries to thread the ball through for Cisse but Turnbull comes out to gather
Wheater fouls Malbranque but is not booked. He could have easily been shown a yellow for that
Downing's cross is met by Aliadiere but he directs the ball wide. Another decent opening for Boro though
Cisse heads the ball goalwards from Steed Malbranque's cross but Ross Turnbull saves well - the Sunderland striker was offside anyway
Cisse is looking Sunderland's best outlet as he sees his shot deflected wide
The visitors are much the better side and that Downing effort was the best chance of the game so far
Alves' initial shot is blocked before Downing forces Craig Gordon into a fine save with the rebound
Adam Johnson wins a free-kick on the left as Boro continue to look the more likely scorers
Boro have had the better of the game so far but they haven't really been able to carve out any decent chances
El Hadji Diouf does well for Sunderland and wins a corner but Boro manage to clear
Alves manages to work a bit of space in the box but is eventually crowded out
Djibril Cisse pulls a shot wide from distance at the other end
Alves wins a corner after Ferdinand puts the ball behind but Boro can't make anything of it
Jeremie Aliadiere's shot is blocked as Boro make the early running in the game
Stewart Downing gets a bit of space down the left but his cross is poor
Didier Digard fires the first shot on goal from the edge of the area but it's over the bar
It's been a tentative opening to the game but it's a decent atmosphere inside the stadium
Kickoff
The clash at the Stadium of Light gets underway
Awaiting Kickoff
Sunderland are unchanged so Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney make their home debuts. Boro striker Mido has injured himself in the warm-up so Afonso Alves starts, Adam Johnson, David Wheater and Andrew Taylor all also come in.