2018–19 Sunderland A.F.C. season explained

Club:	Sunderland
Season:	2018–19
Manager:	Jack Ross
Chairman:	Stewart Donald
Stadium:	Stadium of Light
League:	League One
League Result:	5th
Cup1:	FA Cup
Cup1 Result:	Second round replay
Cup2:	EFL Cup
Cup2 Result:	First round
Cup3:	EFL Trophy
Cup3 Result:	Runners-up
League Topscorer:	Josh Maja (15)
Season Topscorer:	Josh Maja (16)
Highest Attendance:	46,039 (vs. Bradford City)
Lowest Attendance:	7,644 (vs. Stoke City U21's)
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Prevseason:	2017–18
Nextseason:	2019–20
Updated:	April 28, 2019

The 2018–19 season was Sunderland's 140th season in existence, and their first season in the third tier of English football since 1987, after relegation from the Premier League two seasons ago and the Championship the previous season.^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]} Along with competing in League One, the club also participated in the FA Cup and EFL Cup as well as the EFL Trophy. The season covered the period from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019.

First team squad

Squad No.	Name	Nationality	Position(s)	Age	Ends	Signed from	Apps	Goals
Goalkeepers
1	Jon McLaughlin		GK		2020	Heart of Midlothian	55	0
25	Robbin Ruiter		GK		2019	Utrecht	7	0
32	Max Stryjek		GK		2019	Polonia Warsaw	0	0
43	Anthony Patterson		GK		2019	Academy	0	0
Defenders
2	Adam Matthews		RB		2019	Celtic	66	2
3	Bryan Oviedo		LB		2020	Everton	73	2
4	Glenn Loovens		CB		2020	Sheffield Wednesday	13	0
5	Alim Öztürk		CB		2020	Boluspor	15	0
12	Tom Flanagan		CB		2020	Burton Albion	37	2
15	Jack Baldwin		CB		2020	Peterborough United	41	3
24	Jack Bainbridge		CB		2019	Swansea City	2	0
33	Denver Hume		LB		2021	Academy	11	0
38	Owen Gamble		RB		2019	Academy	0	0
40	Brandon Taylor		CB		2019	Academy	1	0
Midfielders
7	Chris Maguire		RW		2020	Bury	37	7
8	Dylan McGeouch		AM		2020	Hibernian	28	0
10	George Honeyman (C)		AM		2019	Academy	93	15
11	Lynden Gooch		AM		2022	Academy	85	9
13	Luke O'Nien		CM		2020	Wycombe Wanderers	47	5
14	Duncan Watmore		RW		2020	Altrincham	64	6
19	Aiden McGeady		LW		2020	Everton	76	21
23	Grant Leadbitter		CM		2021	Middlesbrough	139	11
27	Max Power		CM		2021	Wigan Athletic	41	4
34	Jake Hackett		CM		2019	Academy	3	0
37	Bali Mumba		CM		2021	Academy	9	0
45	Daniel Neil		CM	17	2020	Academy	1	0
47	Jordan Hunter		DM		2019	Liverpool	1	0
Forwards
9	Charlie Wyke		ST		2021	Bradford City	26	5
22	Will Grigg		ST		2022	Wigan Athletic	18	5
26	Kazaiah Sterling		ST		2019	Tottenham Hotspur (loan)	6	1
39	Jack Diamond		ST		2019	Academy	3	0
41	Lee Connelly		ST		2019	Queen's Park	3	0
48	Benjamin Mbunga-Kimpioka		ST		2020	IK Sirius	9	2

Pre-season friendlies

As of 18 July 2018, Sunderland have announced five pre-season friendlies against Darlington, Hartlepool United, Grimsby Town, St Mirren, and Middlesbrough.^[7]

Competitions

League One

See main article: 2018–19 EFL League One.

See also: 2019 EFL League One play-off Final.

Matches

The fixtures for the 2018–19 season were released on 21 June 2018.^[8]

FA Cup

See main article: 2018–19 FA Cup.

On 22 October 2018, the draw for the first round was made in Hitchin.^[9] The draw for the second round was made live on BBC and BT by Mark Schwarzer and Glenn Murray on 12 November.^[10]

EFL Cup

See main article: 2018–19 EFL Cup.

On 15 June 2018, the draw for the first round was made in Vietnam.^[11]

EFL Trophy

See main article: 2018–19 EFL Trophy.

See also: 2019 EFL Trophy Final.

On 13 July 2018, the initial group stage draw bar the U21 invited clubs was announced.^[12] The draw for the second round was made live on Talksport by Leon Britton and Steve Claridge on 16 November.^[13] On 8 December, the third round draw was drawn by Alan McInally and Matt Le Tissier on Soccer Saturday.^[14] The Quarter-final draw was made conducted on Sky Sports by Don Goodman and Thomas Frank on 10 January 2019.^[15] The draw for the semi-finals took place on 25 January live on Talksport.^[16]

Knockout stage

Squad statistics

Top scorers

width=10		width=10		width=10		width=170	Player	width=50	League One	width=50	FA Cup	width=50	EFL Cup	width=50	EFL Trophy	width=50	Total
1	FW	20	Josh Maja	15	0	0	1	16
2	MF	19	Aiden McGeady	11	1	0	2	14
3	MF	10	George Honeyman	6	1	0	1	8
4	MF	7	Chris Maguire	6	0	0	1	7
	MF	11	Lynden Gooch	5	1	0	1	7
6	MF	6	Lee Cattermole	6	0	0	0	6
7	FW	9	Charlie Wyke	4	0	0	1	5
	MF	13	Luke O'Nien	5	0	0	0	5
	FW	22	Will Grigg	4	0	0	1	5
10	MF	27	Max Power	4	0	0	0	4
11	DF	15	Jack Baldwin	3	0	0	0	3
12	DF	12	Tom Flanagan	2	0	0	0	2
	MF	14	Duncan Watmore	1	0	0	1	2
	MF	17	Lewis Morgan	1	0	0	1	2
	FW	17	Jerome Sinclair	1	0	0	1	2
	FW	48	Benjamin Mbunga-Kimpioka	0	0	0	2	2
16	DF	2	Adam Matthews	1	0	0	0	1
	MF	21	Ethan Robson	0	0	0	1	1
	FW	26	Kazaiah Sterling	1	0	0	0	1
	DF	30	Jimmy Dunne	1	0	0	0	1
Own Goals				1	0	0	2	3
Total				74	3	0	15	92

Appearances and goals

|-|colspan="14"|Players who have played for Sunderland this season but are currently out on loan:|-|colspan="14"|Players who have played for Sunderland this season but have left the club:|-|}

Disciplinary record

No.	Pos.	Name	League One			FA Cup			EFL Cup			EFL Trophy			Total
2					4						1																		5
3					3				1																				3				1
4					1				1																				1				1
6					13																								13
7					2				1		1																		3				1
8					3																								3
9					1																								1
10					7				1								1												8				1
11					8																								8
12					5																								5
13					5						1						1						1						8
14											1																		1
15					6																		1						7
16					4																								4
18					1																								1
19					2						1												1						4
23					4																								4
27					5				3																				5				3
30					3																								3
33					2																								2
37																							2						2
Total			83	0	7	5	0	0	2	0	0	5	0	0	94	0	7

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
1 July 2018					Free	^[17]
1 July 2018					Free	^[18]
1 July 2018					Free	^[19]
1 July 2018					Free	^[20]
2 July 2018					Free
2 July 2018					Free	^[21]
2 July 2018					Free	^[22]
11 July 2018					Free	^[23]
20 July 2018					Free	^[24]
26 July 2018			Max Johnstone		Free	^[25]
28 July 2018					£200,000	^[26]
30 July 2018					Undisclosed	^[27]
1 August 2018					£900,000	^[28]
2 January 2019					Undisclosed	^[29]
29 January 2019					Free transfer	^[30]
1 February 2019					£3,000,000	^[31]

Loans in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Until	Ref.
25 July 2018					10 January 2019	^[32]
10 August 2018					1 January 2019	^[33]
9 January 2019					End of season	^[34]
30 January 2019					End of season	^[35]
31 January 2019					End of season	^[36]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
1 July 2018					Released	^[37]
1 July 2018					£5,500,000	^[38]
1 July 2018					Released	^[39] ^[40]
1 July 2018					Undisclosed	^[41]
1 July 2018					£6,000,000	^[42]
1 July 2018					Released	^[43]
1 July 2018					£5,000,000	^[44]
1 July 2018					Released	^[45]
1 July 2018			Jean-Yves Poame		Released	^[46]
1 July 2018			Josh Robson		Released	^[47]
1 July 2018					Released	^[48] ^[49]
1 July 2018					£1,500,000	^[50]
1 July 2018					Released	^[51]
1 July 2018					Released	^[52]
1 July 2018			Daniel Wright		Released	^[53]
1 July 2018			Jordan Hickey		Released	^[54]
11 July 2018			Sam Greenwood		Undisclosed	^[55]
13 July 2018					Undisclosed	^[56]
14 July 2018					£2,500,000	^[57]
17 July 2018					£9,000,000	^[58]
20 July 2018					Undisclosed	^[59]
12 September 2018					Sacked	^[60] ^[61]
24 September 2018					Sacked	^[62]
17 January 2019					Undisclosed	^[63]
26 January 2019					Undisclosed	^[64]
29 January 2019					Free	^[65]
15 March 2019			Adam Bale		Free	^[66]

Loans out

Start date	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Until	Ref.
1 August 2018					End of season	^[67]
3 August 2018					30 January 2019	^[68]
30 August 2018					End of season	^[69] ^[70]
31 August 2018					1 January 2019	^[71]
14 January 2019					End of season	^[72]
7 September 2018					2 January 2019	^[73]
21 September 2018					22 December 2018	^[74]
6 December 2018					Work Experience	^[75]
13 December 2018					10 January 2019	^[76]
18 January 2019					End of season	^[77]
31 January 2019					End of season	^[78]
22 March 2019					End of season	^[79]

See also

• Sunderland 'Til I Die

Notes and References

1. Web site: History . Statto.
2. News: 2017-04-28 . Sunderland 0-1 Bournemouth . 2024-05-21 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
3. News: Taylor . Louise . 2017-04-29 . Sunderland relegated from Premier League after defeat by Bournemouth . 2024-05-21 . The Observer . en-GB . 0029-7712.
4. News: 21 April 2018 . Sunderland 1–2 Burton Albion . BBC Sport.
5. News: Hardy . Martin . 2018-04-22 . How Sunderland went from an established Premier League side to the third-tier of English football The Independent . 2024-05-21 . The Independent . en.
6. News: Taylor . Louise . 2018-04-21 . Sunderland relegated as Liam Boyce’s injury-time winner gives Burton hope . 2024-05-21 . The Observer . en-GB . 0029-7712.
7. News: Four pre-season fixtures announced. 12 June 2018. Chronicle. 12 June 2018.
8. 2017/18 Fixtures . SkySports .
9. News: FA Cup draw: First round proper. 22 October 2018 . FA . 22 October 2018.
10. News: Guiseley to face Fleetwood in FA Cup second round . . 12 November 2018 . 12 November 2018.
11. News: Lampard's Derby at Oldham in Carabao Cup . 15 June 2018 . . 15 June 2018.
12. News: Checkatrade Trophy: Round One Draw information . 13 July 2018 . . 13 July 2018.
13. Web site: Checkatrade Trophy Round Two Draw Confirmed . . 19 November 2018.
14. Web site: Checkatrade Trophy Round Three draw confirmed . . 10 December 2018.
15. Web site: Quarter-final draw confirmed . . 11 January 2019.
16. Web site: Semi-final draw . . 25 January 2019.
17. Web site: Flanagan signs up . SAFC.com . 28 June 2018.
18. News: Sunderland sign Bury man . 25 June 2018 . SunderlandAFC . 25 June 2018.
19. News: Sunderland sign goalkeeper McLaughlin . 25 June 2018 . . 25 June 2018.
20. Web site: Ozturk becomes first signing of summer . SAFC.com . 21 June 2018.
21. News: Sunderland sign midfielder McGeouch . 2 July 2018 . . 2 July 2018.
22. Web site: Liverpool youngster signs up . 2 July 2018 . SAFC.com . 2 July 2018.
23. Web site: Bainbridge signs for Sunderland . SAFC.com . 11 July 2018.
24. News: Sunderland seal seventh summer signing as defender signs two-year deal . 20 July 2018 . . 20 July 2018.
25. News: Young stopper signs up . 26 July 2018 . . 26 July 2018.
26. News: Baldwin Completes Sunderland Move . 28 July 2018 . . 28 July 2018.
27. News: O'Nien completes Sunderland move . 30 July 2018 . . 30 July 2018.
28. News: Red & Wyke: Striker signs for Sunderland . 1 August 2018 . . 1 August 2018.
29. Web site: Max Power Completes Permanent Transfer To Sunderland AFC . . 2 January 2019.
30. Web site: Jack Ross and Grant Leadbitter react as midfielder seals emotional Sunderland return . . 29 January 2019.
31. Web site: Sunderland seal Grigg deal . . 1 February 2019.
32. Web site: Sinclair signs on loan . SAFC.com . 25 July 2018.
33. Web site: Power completes move . RokerReport . 10 August 2018.
34. Web site: Defender arrives on loan . . 9 January 2019.
35. Web site: Defender arrives on loan . RokerReport . 30 January 2019.
36. Web site: Sterling signs on loan . . 31 January 2019.
37. Web site: Dunfermline Athletic confirm signing of Sunderland youngster . ChronicleLive . 21 March 2018.
38. Web site: Borini completes Milan deal . BleacherReport . 30 June 2017.
39. Web site: 2018-19:Sunderland AFC retained list . SAFC.com. 7 June 2018.
40. News: Billy becomes signing number four . 20 July 2018 . . 20 July 2018.
41. Web site: Ledger signs with Norwegian club . BBC . 13 March 2018.
42. Web site: Lens pens permanent Besiktas deal . SkySports . 28 February 2018.
43. News: Kazenga LuaLua Joins The Hatters! . 26 September 2018 . . 26 September 2018.
44. Web site: McNair completes Boro move . SunderlandAFC . 26 June 2018.
45. News: Veteran defender O'Shea joins Reading . 6 June 2018 . . 6 June 2018.
46. News: Cabinteely sign ex-Ireland under-17 star Jean Yves Poame from Sunderland . 18 August 2018 . Extratime.ie . 18 August 2018 .
47. News: Robson Med Ny Kontrakt . 24 July 2018 . . 4 July 2018 . no.
48. Web site: Rodwell contract terminated . RokerReport . 27 June 2018.
49. News: Jack Rodwell joins Blackburn on deal to end of season . 23 August 2018 . . 23 August 2018.
50. Web site: Steele signs with BHA . Roker Report. 21 June 2018.
51. Web site: Released keeper finds new club . Roker Report. 13 November 2018.
52. News: Bolton Wanderers sign Marc Wilson . 24 July 2018 . . 24 July 2018.
53. News: South Shields sign former Sunderland and England youth midfielder . 24 July 2018 . . 24 July 2018.
54. Web site: Roker Roundup . Roker Report. 29 June 2018.
55. Web site: Rodwell contract terminated . Mirror . 11 July 2018.
56. News: Woud joins Willem II . 13 July 2018 . . 13 July 2018.
57. News: Asoro completes Swansea move . 14 July 2018 . . 14 July 2018.
58. News: Sunderland confirm Wahbi Khazri joins Saint-Etienne on initial £6million deal . 17 July 2018 . . 17 July 2018.
59. News: McManaman joins Wigan Athletic . 20 July 2018 . . 20 July 2018.
60. News: Club statement – Papy Djilobodji . 12 September 2018 . . 12 September 2018.
61. Web site: Senegal's Djilobodji signs for Guingamp . . 1 January 2019.
62. News: Club statement – Didier Ndong . 24 September 2018 . . 24 September 2018.
63. Web site: Nelson joins Dundee . . 17 January 2019.
64. Web site: Maja joins Bordeaux . . 26 January 2019.
65. Web site: NCFC signs Brotherton . NorthCarolinaFC . 29 January 2019.
66. Web site: Adam Bale leaves SAFC . . 15 March 2019.
67. News: Kone joins Strasbourg on loan . 1 August 2018 . . 1 August 2018.
68. News: Spartans sign New Zealand International on season long loan . 3 August 2018 . . 3 August 2018.
69. News: Embleton joins Grimsby . 30 August 2018 . BBC . 30 August 2018.
70. Web site: Embleton Extends Loan Until End Of The Season . . 2 January 2019 . 18 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220118092620/https://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/2019/january/-embleton-extends-loan-until-end-of-the-season/ . dead .
71. News: Shields joins Alloa until January. 31 August 2018 . Chronicle . 31 August 2018.
72. News: Shields joins Alloa on loan. . 14 January 2019.
73. News: Gateshead sign Sunderland youngster on loan . 7 September 2018 . . 7 September 2018.
74. News: Stryjek extends loan at Eastleigh . 4 November 2018 . Chronicle . 22 October 2018.
75. News: Stryjek extends loan at Eastleigh . 7 December 2018 . Darlington . 6 December 2018.
76. Web site: Nelson joins Darlington on loan . . 13 December 2018.
77. Web site: Luke Molyneux Joins Pools On Loan . . 18 January 2019.
78. Web site: Dundee boss Jim McIntyre signs Ryan McGowan and Ethan Robson on loan . . 31 January 2019.
79. Web site: Diamond joins Spennymoor on loan . . 22 March 2019.