Ten-man Sunderland staged an incredible second half comeback, scoring three goals in seven minutes to earn a draw against West Bromwich Albion - and then saw out the final 25 minutes after being further reduced to nine men. The Black Cats were staring down the barrel of an embarrassing defeat as they trailed 3-0 after just 20 minutes at Eppleton.
Jamie Andrews had put the Baggies in front with a penalty awarded in controversial circumstances inside three minutes, with Reyes Cleary and Mo Faal adding further goals. Sunderland's night then went from bad to worse when Michael Spellman was shown a straight red card for a reckless lunge on Zac Ashworth - whose father Dan, Newcastle United's sporting director, was watching from the stands - on the stroke of half-time.
But Sunderland were a different side in the second half, with Max Thompson scoring two goals in as many minutes after the restart to drag the Black Cats back into the game, before winning a penalty which was converted by Caden Kelly. Ethan Kachosa was sent off just after the half-hour leaving Sunderland two men down, but they held out in the face of heavy pressure to earn an unlikely point.
READ MORE: Sunderland set to appoint Tony Mowbray as head coach after deal agreed 'in principle'
Sunderland fell behind early when referee Elliott Swallow, on the advice of his linesman, awarded a penalty when it seemed that Tom Fellows had tripped over his own feet, and in any case went to ground outside the area. But Andrews stepped up to beat Jacob Carney with the spot-kick, with the keeper getting a touch to it but unable to prevent it finding the bottom right-hand corner.
The Baggies doubled their lead on 12 minutes, but this time Sunderland had only themselves to blame when their centre-backs were caugth out by a routine long ball which allowed Cleary to run in behind them and tuck his finish past Carney. And on 20 minutes the visitors added a third, as the ball was played into the box from the right and Faal was given space to bring it under control before turning and sweeping home.
Sunderland had a couple of half-chances through Max Thompson, but without forcing Baggies keeper Ronnie Hollinshead into a save. West Brom could have added another ten minutes before the break when Cianole Nguepissi met Andrews' corner with a firm header, but Carney was in the right place on his goalline to make the save.
And Sunderland's plight was made worse when Spellman was dismissed deep into the allotted two minutes of injury-time at the end of the first half. Sunderland sent on Connor Pye at half-time in place of Zak Johnson, with Nathan Newall moving into central defence.
Sunderland then launched their comeback, scoring three times in seven minutes at the start of the second period to wipe out West Brom's lead. First Thompson capitalised on some hesitant defending to burst into the penalty area and tuck his finish into the bottom right-hand corner within a minute of the restart.
And then, a minute later, Kachosa crossed from the right side of the box and Thompson was there at the far post to head home. On 52 minutes, Thompson won a penalty when he was brought down by West Brom's triallist centre-back, and Caden Kelly fired home from the spot.
At the other end, Carney made a good save to push away an effort from Cleary as a stunned West Brom tried to regain the initiative. Sunderland then went down to nine men on 63 minutes when Kachosa was dismissed for a second bookable offence after a foul.
With a two-man advantage in favour of the Baggies, the remainder of the game was one-way traffic towards the Sunderland goal. Carney made a couple of excellent saves, while Faal missed a huge chance 15 minutes from time when he headed tamely straight at the keeper from a yard out.
And five minutes from time, Carney made a brilliant stop to deny Jovan Malcolm when the substitute seemed certain to score from eight yards out.
Sunderland U21: Carney, Kachosa, Jessup, Johnson (Pye 46), Newall, Chiabi (Rigg 79), Spellman, Robinson, Middlemas (Wilson 66), Kelly, Thompson (Watson 84). Subs not used: Bond
Booked: Kachosa, Kelly, Carney, Robinson, Watson
Sent off: Spellman, Kachosa
West Brom U21: Hollinshead, Ingram, Ashworth, Andrews, Trialist, Nguepissi (Malcolm 80), Fellows, Whitwell, Faal, Richards (Mitchell 66), Cleary. Subs not used: Hudd, Shaw, Mfumba
Booked: Andrews, Trialist
Referee: Elliott Swallow (Blackpool)
Attendance: 312
READ NEXT:
- Sunderland in danger of double disappointment in transfer market after setbacks on two deals
- Sunderland's Jack Diamond joins League One Lincoln City on a season-long loan
- Kristjaan Speakman promises update on Sunderland head coach search 'shortly' as more names linked
- Sunderland's front two enough to 'frighten' any Championship side, says Corry Evans
- Sunderland prove they are still an Alex Neil team despite his absence against Norwich
