Sky Bet Championship
Sunderland 1 (Bellingham 78)
Leeds United 0
Sunderland: Patterson, Huggins, Ballard, O’Nien, Ba (Roberts 59), Seet (Ekwah 71), Neil, Hume, Pritchard (Dack 90+1), Clarke, Bellingham. Subs not used: Bishop, Burstow, Mayenda, Rusyn, Aouchiche, Triantis.
Leeds: Meslier, Spence (Bamford 82), Struijk, Rodon, Gray, Ampadu, Kamara (Joseph 82), James (Anthony 75), Summerville, Piroe, Georginio (Gnonto 75). Subs: Darlow, Ayling, Cooper, Gelhardt, Gruev.
Booked: O’Nien (Sunderland), Gray, Ampadu, James (Leeds)
Referee: D. Whitestone
Venue: Stadium of Light
Attendance: 40,531
Leeds United’s unbeaten run came to an end at the Stadium of Light, as Jode Bellingham’s header 12 minutes from time, secured Sunderland a 1-0 victory.
Leeds nearly found a breakthrough inside three minutes, Crysencio Summerville won a free-kick on the left side and decided to go for goal at the set-piece and only an unbelievable save from Anthony Patterson prevented his strike from finding the top corner.
Djed Spence making his first start for the club tried his luck from 25 yards and saw his shot deflect narrowly wide of the Sunderland goal.
Sunderland’s first shot came in the 22nd minute, Alex Pritchard hit a bending effort just wide of Illan Meslier’s goal, from the edge of the box.
The hosts gained momentum following Pritchard’s strike and won a free-kick, with Jenson Seelt seeing an effort cleared off the line, before the Black Cats won a corner.
From the resulting set-piece Leeds had Illan Meslier to thank for keeping the scores level, as the Frenchman produced a superb stop to deny Seelt’s header.
Sunderland again threatened from another corner in the 37th minute, with Jobe Bellingham putting a free header wide of the goal.
Former Leeds man Jack Clarke fired wide for the hosts before the break, as neither side could get a breakthrough in the first period.
Half time: Sunderland 0-0 Leeds United
Another former Leeds player Niall Huggins saw the ball drop to his feet in the Whites box and he struck a powerful attempt on goal, but once more, Meslier refused to be beaten.
Glen Kamara saw a 20 yard strike saved well by Patterson, before Clarke fired over with a shot on the spin, following a cross into the Leeds box.
Top Leeds scorer Summerville nearly added to his tally when he broke away on a counter attack, following a header by Kamara, but he was unable to get the better of Patterson in the Sunderland goal.
Immediately after the Summerville chance, Sunderland broke up the field and Huggins saw a deflected effort bounce just wide.
The hosts scored the crucial goal when the ball deflected off the head of Pritchard following a cross, which fell perfectly into the path of Bellingham who headed past Meslier.
Leeds pushed to equalise in the closing stages of the match and nearly did through Joel Piroe, but his strike was cleared off the line with a last ditch attempt, as the hosts held out to secure the three points.
Full time: Sunderland 1-0 Leeds United
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