Luke O'Nien has praised teenager Chris Rigg after the youngster made his debut at Shrewsbury Town and helped Sunderland reach the fourth round of the FA Cup. Schoolboy Rigg became the youngest outfielder in the club's history when he came off the bench at the age of 15 years and 203 days for the final nine minutes of the match at the New Meadow.
Sunderland were trailing 1-0 at the time, but Rigg won a corner in injury-time which was headed home by Ross Stewart to level things up, before O'Nien scored an injury-time goal of his own to send the Black Cats through. Rigg was one of four U18s on the bench against the Shrews but was the only one to get on the pitch.
"I have to give a big shout-out to Riggy," said O'Nien. "That's been my highlight of the day, seeing him come on.
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"He's been coming up to the first team and he has made us look silly, and I think he contributed to the first goal by winning the corner. He's 15. I don't know what I was doing at 15, but I was nowhere near at his level.
"It's really good to see him coming through and it is really good to see a few of the other youngsters coming through as well. They've been coming to training and they have lifted the standard.
"It's really good to see and it's really good for the future of the club. Big congrats to him and to all the other young lads that came but didn't get on, it's a good step in the right direction for them all."
Shrewsbury hit the crossbar in the first half but, aside from the opening 20 minutes, Sunderland were the better side and would have won comfortably if they had been able to finish their chances. O'Nien said: "We dominated in the first half but we didn't take our chances.
"Maybe we didn't get enough shots off, I don't know, but we dominated the ball. When you don't create chances you give them a little lift and all they need is one chance, which they [took].
"It just shows what sort of team we are to score two 90-plus minute goals. There's no better way to get through in the FA Cup, but hopefully in the next round we can do it a little bit quicker.
"A big shout-out to the fans that came down as well. They turned out in their numbers as always."
Of his goal, O'Nien - who played at left-back against the Shrews - added: "I think I got a nosebleed being that high up the pitch! I haven't been there for a long, long, time.
"We were pushing on because no-ine wanted a replay, we wanted to get into the hat for the next round. I'm glad I could contribute. Amad put it on a plate for me and I showed Dan Neil how to do it because he put one into the stand a bit before!"
Sunderland's cup progress means they are now unbeaten in their last five games and have lost only one of their last eight in all competitions. O'Nien said: "These games are important. Momentum in football is huge - I think you saw that in our run-in that led to us getting promoted last season.
"More minutes for a lot of the boys, and it just keeps the good run going."
READ NEXT:
- Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray sets out next steps for Chris Rigg after the teenager's landmark debut
- Shrewsbury Town boss Steve Cotterill 'lost for words' at late FA Cup turnaround against Sunderland
- Sunderland looking to add central midfielder after letting Jay Matete leave on loan
- Sunderland's late turnaround in the FA Cup delivered the 'right result', insists Tony Mowbray
- Patrick Roberts and Luke O'Nien star as Sunderland beat Shrewsbury in FA Cup third round
