Aji Alese had to endure an agonising wait for confirmation that he had scored his first senior goal at the weekend in Sunderland's draw at Watford. The Black Cats defender was sure his shot had crossed the line before Hamza Choudhury could clear, but he could only start celebrating when referee John Busby blew his whistle and pointed to his watch indicating that goalline technology had confirmed the goal.
The goal came on the stroke of half-time, and it cancelled out Keinan Davis' opener meaning the sides went in at the break on level terms. Asked about the decision, summer signing from West Ham Alese said: "It was a tight one but as I hit the shot I thought it went in and I wanted to spin off and celebrate but I had to wait until the whistle blew and the ref pointed at his watch then we could start the celebrations.
"I think when I was growing up watching football that goal wouldn't have been given, maybe the lino wouldn't have seen it or the ref wouldn't have had a good angle. Technology can definitely help.
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"And it was my first professional goal. I've scored a lot in training and a few in U23s games so I'm very happy with that.
"Hopefully it's the first of a few."
Alese has impressed in Sunderland's last two outings at Reading and Watford after stepping into the starting XI to fill the gap left by Dennis Cirkin, who suffered a hamstring injury in the prevous game at Middlesbrough. Alese said: "The team has been doing really well so I just have to keep working hard and stay ready to get an opportunity and it happened to come around this week.
"Obviously the Millwall game was postponed [following the death of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II], so I had time to get ready for the Reading game and just had to put in as good as a performance as I can."
Sunderland fell behind again in the second period when former Watford man Luke O'Nien's misdirected header landed in his own net, but sub Jewison Bennette scored a late equaliser to give Tony Mowbray's men a point. The Black Cats moved up one place to fifth in the table going into the international break, before their campaign resumes at home to Preston North End a week on Saturday.
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