Tommy Doyle's controversial goal cost Sunderland a point as Sheffield United came from behind at the Stadium of Light to tighten their grip on an automatic promotion place. The Black Cats took the lead on the half-hour as Edouard Michut scored his first goal for the club, but on-loan Manchester City midfielder James McAtee levelled for the Blades in first-half stoppage time.
But the key moment came on the hour when Doyle's free-kick found it's way through a crowded penalty area and into the net, with Sander Berge - who was one of three players standing in an offside position - waving a leg at the ball and while he did not make contact, it meant the flag should have gone up against him. Instead the goal stood, and that meant the Blades completed the turnaround although Patrick Roberts came close to an equaliser when he struck the post.
Defeat meant Sunderland slipped to 12th in the table, and the gap between themselves and the play-off spots now stands at eight points. Tony Mowbray named an unchanged starting XI, sticking with the same players that won at Norwich City on Sunday.
READ MORE: Sunderland 1-2 Sheffield United: Highlights and reaction as controversial goal sinks Black Cats
The only alteration saw fit-again Alex Pritchard named on the bench, with youngster Ellis Taylor making way. Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom made four changes, in his case to the side that started the weekend defeat at home to Luton Town.
Doyle, McAtee, George Baldock, and Daniel Jebbison came into the side, with John Fleck, Oli McBurnie, Ollie Norwood, and Jayden Bogle dropping to the bench. There were chances at both ends in the early stages, with Sheffield United first to threaten as McAtee saw a shot blocked behind for a corner and Anel Ahmedhodzic then headed narrowly wide from the set-piece.
But at the other end Patrick Roberts backheeled the ball into the path of Trai Hume inside the area and his low shot brought a save out of Wes Foderingham, although the keeper could not hold onto the ball and he needed his defenders to clear. The visitors soon took control and Anthony Patterson made an excellent save to turn a Jebbison shot round the post.
Then Luke O'Nien had to make a crucial clearance when a low cross came in from the left, with two forwards close to him ready for a tap-in. Sunderland saw a penalty appeal turned down by referee Matt Donohue when Danny Batth's header hit Berge on the arm, but the contact came at very close quarters and it would have been a harsh penalty had it been given.
But Sunderland took the lead on the half-hour with a brilliantly-worked goal, with Dan Neil playing the ball to Abdoullah Ba and he slid the ball through to the unmarked Michut on the edge of the box to the right of centre and his low shot across Foderingham beat the keeper and found the bottom left-hand corner. The Black Cats could not hold out until half-time, however, and they conceded in the first minute of injury-time at the end of the first period.
Roberts gave the ball away inside the visitors' half and it was played forward down the right to George Baldock who fed it inside to McAtee, who found a way between O'Nien and Batth before steering his finish past Patterson into the bottom left-hand corner. Early in the second half, Sunderland were caught on the counter and it needed a vital block from Patterson in a one-on-one with Iliman N'Diaye to prevent the Blades going in front.
But on the hour, the visitors completed the turnaround - albeit in controversial circumstances. They won a free-kick just outside the left corner of the box which was swung in by Doyle, three Sheffield players were standing in offside positions and while none of them touched the ball as it found the net, Berge swung a leg at it which meant the flag should have gone up but it stayed down.
Sunderland came back strongly and Jack Clarke forced Foderingham into a good save with a powerful shot from the edge of the box. And seconds later, Roberts struck the base of the left-hand post with a low shot across the face of goal, but that was as close as Sunderland came to getting back into the game.
How they lined up
Sunderland: Patterson, Hume, Ballard, Batth, O'Nien (Ekwah 87), Michut (Gooch 72), Neil, Roberts, Ba (Lihadji 72), Clarke, Gelhardt (Pritchard 72). Subs not used: Bass, Bennette, Anderson
Booked: Hume, Michut, Ballard
Sheffield United: Foderingham, Egan, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Baldock (Bogle 78), Berge, Doyle (Norwood 78), McAtee (Fleck 78), Lowe, N'Diaye (Sharp 90+2), Jebbison (McBurnie 70). Subs not used: Davies, Basham,
Booked: Robinson, Lowe, Doyle, Ahmedhodzic
Referee: Matt Donohue (Manchester)
Attendance: 37,019
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