Dan Neil admits his first Championship goal will hold 'bittersweet' memories after Sunderland's second half capitulation against Burnley. Neil scored after 20 minutes to put his side 2-0 in front after Amad Diallo had opened the scoring, as the Black Cats stunned the Clarets in the first half at the Stadium of Light.
But it was a different story in the second period with Sunderland unable to maintain their intensity levels as promotion favourites Burnley came out fired up and dominated the remainder of the game. The Clarets drew level before the hour, completed the turnaround 20 minutes from the end, and then made it 4-2 right at the death.
With centre-forwards Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms still on the sidelines due to injury, Sunderland have found it tough to score goals but Neil has at least begun to chip in. "Obviously when you're two strikers go down you're looking for other players to contribute with goals and I have been gutted so far that I haven't been able to get on the scoresheet," said the academy graduate.
