Sunderland put five goals past ten-man Cambridge United at the Stadium of Light to climb back into the play-off spots and up to fourth place in the table. Ross Stewart won and converted an early penalty after he was brought down inside the area, with U's defender Lloyd Jones shown a straight red card for denying him a goalscoring opportunity.
Elliot Embleton added the second just before the half-hour with a tremendous free-kick, before Paul Digby pulled a goal back for the visitors. But Stewart restored Sunderland's two-goal cushion before half-time, and Nathan Broadhead added a fourth goal just after the interval before Danny Batth completed the rout inside the final 20 minutes with his first goal for the club.
The win extended Sunderland's unbeaten run to 11 games, and it was also their fifth win in a row on home soil. But it was the impact on the play-off picture that really mattered to Sunderland, and they now look well-placed to secure a top six finish.
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Here's how James Hunter rated the Sunderland players.
Anthony Patterson 6
Could do nothing about the goal and otherwise had very little to do
Bailey Wright 7
Solid on the right side of the back three
Danny Batth 7
Played in the middle of the back line, and also scored his first goal for the club
Carl Winchester 6
Limped off with a groin injury after only ten minutes. Hopefully it is not too serious
Lynden Gooch 8
Outstanding on the right flank, providing two assists and delivering numerous quality crosses
Corry Evans 7
Controlled the midfield and was given a good ovation when he went off, to be rested ahead of the final two games
Luke O'Nien 6
Did OK in central midfield but should have added the sixth goal late in the game
Elliot Embleton 7
Scored a stunning free-kick and was always a threat from midfield
Patrick Roberts 6
A lively showing and could easily have got on the scoresheet himself
Nathan Broadhead 7
Scored one goal and could have had more
Ross Stewart 8
A menace all afternoon, and scored two more goals to send him back to the top of the League One scoring charts
Subs
Callum Doyle 7
For Winchester 10mins. Came on early in the game and did well on the left side of defence
Alex Pritchard 7
For Broadhead 59mins. Eased his way back after injury and on another day might have got on the scoresheet
Dan Neil 7
For Evans 67mins. Brought fresh energy to the midfield in the final quarter of the game
Not used: Hoffmann, Clarke, Matete, Hume
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