Anthony Patterson started in goal with Thorben Hoffmann absent as Sunderland took on Cheltenham at Whaddon Road.
On-loan Bayern Munich man Hoffmann did not travel to the South West, and with backup Lee Burge also out with a heart issue following a bout of Covid, third-choice keeper Patterson made his first start in almost a month.
Patterson had been out on loan at National League Notts County until Covid struck the Sunderland camp in early January, when both Hoffmann and Burge were affected, and he was recalled to Wearside.
