Stoke City 1, Sunderland 0: Final Whistle in Championship Clash
With the clock ticking down and the Potters in desperate need of inspiration following the departure of Narcis Pelach, it was Cannon’s 10th goal of the season that rocketed into the net just two minutes into stoppage time, granting caretaker boss Ryan Shawcross a dream debut.
Pelach’s tenure ended after a disappointing spell where he secured only three wins from 19 matches, and this victory was a timely tonic for the beleaguered fans and players alike.
For Sunderland, this loss halted their momentum as they ventured into the match sitting fourth and boasting an impressive unbeaten streak stretching over five games.
Sunderland’s attacking prowess was evident as they peppered the Stoke goal with enough shots to suggest a resounding win was on the cards. However, it was Cannon’s spectacular strike from 25 yards that shifted the narrative and sent the Black Cats back home empty-handed.
Shawcross will undoubtedly sing the praises of goalkeeper Viktor Johansson, whose superb performance was critical in consigning Sunderland to frustration. The Swede was a formidable presence, thwarting the Black Cats at decisive moments, cementing his status as Stoke’s standout player.
Sunderland relied heavily on their own keeper, Anthony Patterson, who was forced into action repeatedly as the match unfolded.
Yet, it was Johansson who enjoyed the lion’s share of the work, standing tall as his side faced 22 shots, seven of which were on target, yet none could elude his grasp.
Johansson’s critical saves early in the match set the tone; particularly noteworthy was his instinctive low save from Adil Aouchiche, who had cut through the defence and was bearing down on goal from the right.
Although Stoke did their part, Cannon and Lewis Koumas tested Patterson at the opposite end, with Koumas coming agonizingly close to netting in the second half, only to be thwarted by a timely clearance off the line by Chris Mepham.
The visitors weren’t without chances either; Aouchiche struck the woodwork and then assisted Eliezer Mayenda’s header, which disappointingly went wide of the post from close range. An abysmal miss that would ultimately be punished by Cannon’s late-game heroics.
Cannon’s celebration was one for the ages, albeit resulting in a booking for overzealous joy—a testament to the sheer exhilaration surrounding his decisive goal.
Deep into injury time, Sunderland sought a final opportunity to equalize, but once again, Johansson was equal to Mepham’s shot from the edge of the box, preserving Stoke’s precious lead.
While Sunderland remains firmly in a playoff position, they now trail Leeds in the second automatic promotion slot by four points. Meanwhile, Stoke’s sixth victory this season lifted them to 18th, edging them closer to safety in the league.
In his post-match reflections, Stoke’s caretakers manager Ryan Shawcross shared with BBC Radio Stoke:
“The game plan was a risky one as I wanted the lads to go for it and get after Sunderland. I knew at times they would cut through us at times if we did, but second half I felt we had a right good 20 minutes where we probably didn’t get enough finishes or end product.
“Then to win it in the last minute, the feeling in the stadium was amazing and the sort of thing you dream of.
“With a few slight changes, I think there is a group in there who can move forward and be successful. The season has not been great but we spoke about a moment in the season where you have an upturn and hopefully that was it.
“[On whether he wants the job full time] I’ve had one game. I will concentrate on Burnley, if they need me to take it. I would love to know what is going to happen but you never know in football. We will see how it goes.”
After the match, Sunderland manager Regis le Bris expressed his thoughts to BBC Radio Newcastle:
“[I am] Disappointed, but it is a long league and a tough league with many, many games in a short period.
“The most difficult part of the pitch is always the final third. We created many chances I think we had 22 shots and two on the post, three big saves from the goalkeeper. Sometimes football is like that.
“Sometimes you score with one chance and other times you can’t score with six, seven, eight or nine big chances.
“But the spirit was good and we have to keep the way we want to play. Sometimes we deserve to win and sometimes we don’t, so no drama.”
