Sunderland vs Bradford City. Sky Bet League One.
Stadium of LightAttendance46,039.
Wednesday 26 December 2018 20:03, UK
Sunderland sent a bumper crowd home happy as Aiden McGeady's first-half goal lifted them to a 1-0 victory over Bradford.
McGeady's 31st-minute finish settled things as the Black Cats beat strugglers City in front of 46,039 at the Stadium of Light - the biggest third-tier attendance for almost 40 years.
Sunderland started brightly and almost took the lead when Josh Maja flicked Bryan Oviedo's cross narrowly past the post.
Bradford striker Jack Payne also flashed a first-half effort just past the upright, but Sunderland continued to dominate possession and were rewarded just after the half-hour mark.
Richard O'Donnell could only parry Maja's deflected strike back into the area, and while Chris Maguire was not quite able to reach the loose ball, McGeady pounced to sweep home his seventh goal in the last 10 matches.
McGeady went close again just before the interval, with O'Donnell turning his low shot around the post, but Bradford rallied to threaten in the second half.
The visitors might well have had a penalty when Max Power appeared to foul David Ball in the box, and there was an even more controversial moment with nine minutes left.
Jon McLaughlin fumbled Payne's long-range shot, and the ball appeared to have crossed the line before the goalkeeper fell on it. Nothing was given though, and Sunderland held on.
