Report: Sunderland 1-1 Bristol City Bristol City FC

Luke McNally’s second-half goal helped City secure a point against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. 

The defender’s goal gave City the lead in the 62nd minute before Patrick Roberts struck a cruel blow at the death to level the score. 

City return to Ashton Gate on Saturday, December 14th (12:30pm) against Queens Park Rangers. 

A bright start from City would see McNally force a good block and Anthony Patterson deny Max Bird inside the opening ten minutes. 

The hosts found their rhythm and Wilson Isidor began causing problems for City’s defenders. 

Then, Max O’Leary was into action to deny Isidor’s glancing header before Chris Mepham made a brilliant sliding block to redirect Sinclair Armstrong’s strike from a tight angle. 

McNally made two consecutive blocks to initially deny Tommy Watson from close range before getting to his feet and blocking Dan Neil’s effort on the edge of the area. 

Zak Vyner and McNally collected yellow cards in the latter stages of the half, for fouls on Eliezer Mayenda and Trai Hume respectively.

Liam Manning made a double substitution at the break, with Sam Bell and George Earthy replacing Yu Hirakawa and Max Bird. 

15 minutes later, Nahki Wells replaced Armstrong.

The breakthrough came in the 62nd minute after a scramble in the box saw Sunderland clear only as far as McNally who made no mistake from close range to give City the lead. 

Another brilliant piece of defending would see Jason Knight make a brilliant block to keep out Chris Rigg in the 73rd whose effort looked set to hit the back of the net. 

Jobe fired from range in the 82nd minute but his effort couldn’t test O’Leary. 

Anis Mehmeti made way for Haydon Roberts in the 83rd minute. 

Substitute Patrick Roberts equalised for the hosts in added time to split the points.

Starting XI: O’Leary, Vyner, Dickie, McNally, Pring, McGuane, Knight (C), Bird (Earthy 45’), Hirakawa (Bell 45’), Mehmeti (Roberts 83’), Armstrong (Wells 60’) 

Subs: Bajic, Atkinson, Morrison, Cornick, Mayulu

Attendance: 35’421 

NEXT UP: Queens Park Rangers | Saturday, December 14th  (12:30pm) | Ashton Gate Stadium