Sunderland vs Southend United. Sky Bet League One.
Stadium of LightAttendance30,407.
Saturday 2 November 2019 18:08, UK
Luke O'Nien's first-half header earned Sunderland a 1-0 League One win over a spirited Southend.
Phil Parkinson's side were looking to bounce back from their midweek Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Oxford and claimed the lead midway through the opening period.
Denver Hume crossed from the left and having been selected as an attacking midfielder rather than a right-back, O'Nien arrowed a fine diving header into the bottom right-hand corner.
Will Grigg glanced a first-half header wide but Southend thought they should have had a penalty before the interval when Simon Cox's shot appeared to strike Max Power on the arm. Referee Trevor Kettle was at least partially unsighted and waved play on.
Sunderland continued to dominate after the interval and Aiden McGeady came close to doubling his side's lead when he fired in a low strike that Nathan Bishop tipped around the post.
Southend's best chance of an equaliser came with 13 minutes left but after finding himself in space after Joel Lynch's attempt at a clearance cannoned off a team-mate, Tom Hopper could only fire over the bar.
