Sunderland 3 Bolton 3 match report: Simon Grayson sacked after Trotters draw
Grayson's team came from behind twice, led briefly once, but have still not won at home for 19 games and 318 days
SIMON GRAYSON was sacked by Sunderland after an astonishing night at the Stadium of Light.
His team came from behind twice, led briefly once, but have still not won at home for 19 games and 318 days.
The draw at least keeps Sunderland off the foot of the table but only Bolton stand between the club and League One and they haven’t won away in the Championship since April 2015.
The result could prove irrelevant anyway as owner Ellis Short looks to reopen talks with a German consortium and sell the club.
Either way Grayson has gone ahead of Sunday’s Tees-Wear derby at Middlesbrough.
Chief executive Martin Bain said: “Simon and his team have worked tirelessly to achieve the best for the football club during their time here.
“While we hoped that Simon’s experience in the Football League would help us to a successful season, results have not been good enough for a club of this stature.
“In order for us to improve upon our current position we believe a fundamental change is necessary.”
The German group were believed to be at the game last night.
And they saw former Newcastle striker Sammy Ameobi pile the agony on Grayson after 32 minutes when he beat Robbin Ruiter with a speculative shot from 35 yards.
Ruiter was one of four changes made by Grayson, who also finally dropped Lamine Kone, and he should have saved it. It was the third of the season for Ameobi, who was booed throughout.
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Lewis Grabban equalised just before half-time from Didier Ndong’s fine through ball which he prodded past Ben Alnwick. The on-loan Bournemouth striker scored his eighth of the season, 12 minutes after the re-start, when he tapped in Bryan Oviedo’s clever pass.
But any thoughts that Sunderland could end their home hoodoo lasted just three minutes before Gateshead-born Gary Madine scored his first goal in 11 games on the hour, walking the ball past Ruiter after the home side had failed to clear a routine corner.
Seven minutes later Ndong gifted the visitors the lead, playing a brainless back pass into the path of Antonee Robinson who clipped the ball over to Karl Henry to smash the ball home.
Sunderland supporters turned again on players and their manager. They joined in when Bolton supporters mocked Grayson with ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ chants and there was a repeat of the ‘you’re not fit to wear the shirt’ from the weekend.
But it was Grayson’s second-half substitutions who won the point for his side and Northern Ireland international Paddy McNair marked his return to action with his first goal for the club since his move from Manchester United.
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His low left foot drive beat keeper Alnwick, a former Sunderland junior, after fellow sub Duncan Watmore’s sheer perseverance had created the opening at the edge of the area.
Unfortunately Grayson’s third sub James Vaughan appeared to suffer a groin injury which will be another serious blow for the former Everton striker, although he bravely finished the match.