Sunderland edge Leeds as Diarra nets from the spot
Diarra’s 70th-minute penalty gives Sunderland a 1-0 win at Elland Road. Debutant Ellborg saves well, VAR rules out Rodon header for offside and penalises Ampadu for handball. Sunderland rise to 11th.
Live blog trails Leeds v Sunderland, noting Sunderland’s away form and a point at Bournemouth, with team news to follow.
Le Bris confirms keeper Robin Roefs has a minor hamstring strain from the Bournemouth match. Ellborg starts at Leeds. Roefs likely out for the FA Cup tie and maybe Brighton, aiming to return by 22 March.
Recalling Sunderland’s 1964 FA Cup epic with Busby’s Manchester United: a three-game saga, Sharkey scoring, Charlton’s late leveller at Roker Park amid vast crowds, before United won the second replay.
Sunderland earn a 1-0 win at Leeds via Diarra’s penalty. Ballard stars as man of the match, Ellborg keeps a clean sheet on debut, Hume impresses, Xhaka steadies late on.
Ex-Leeds striker Jermain Beckford slams officials, claiming Leeds were denied a ‘clear’ penalty on O’Nien’s challenge on Struijk before Diarra’s spot-kick won it 1-0 for Sunderland at Elland Road.
Arthur Masuaku, loaned to Lens after limited minutes, says his Sunderland move ‘didn’t go as I’d hoped’. He feels at home in Lens and is focused there, casting doubt on a return.
Xhaka hails Sunderland’s 40-point milestone after the 1-0 win at Leeds and targets more. Le Bris praises resilience and sets 43 points as next goal, with ambition for final nine games.
