Lee Burge: 6/10

Relatively comfortable night for Burge, a couple of saves from him and comfortable on the ball but no chance with the last minute Lincoln goal that prevented a deserved clean sheet.

Kenton Richardson: 6/10

Good defensive effort, provided a balance with Hume pressing forward down the left.

Frederik Alves: 7/10

Very composed night from the on-loan Danish defender. Read the game well and he and Younger looked like an assured partnership.

Oliver Younger: 8/10

Started a little slowly playing on the left-hand side of central defence, giving away possession cheaply a couple of times, but grew into the game. Was fantastic by the end, always in the right place for an important block of challenge.

Denver Hume: 6/10

Understandably not as dynamic as usual after such a long lay-off but defended well and always looking to get forward.

Harrison Sohna: 7/10

Very promising performance by the young midfielder. Always looking to receive the ball, tidy in possession and looks a good fit for a Lee Johnson team.

Dan Neil: 9/10

Fantastic performance from the captain from the night. Had far too much quality for Lincoln to cope with, scored a top class goal and provided the cross for the second.

Ellis Taylor: 6/10

Quiet night for Taylor, had a chance to score in the second half but hit his shot straight at the Lincoln goalkeeper.

Alex Pritchard: 6/10

Never stopped running and closing down all night, showed glimpses of his undoubted quality but not quite firing around the 18-yard box just yet.

Aiden O’Brien: 6/10

Almost scored a peach but saw his curler come back off the top of the far post. Always closing down and putting a shift in but maybe a bit too keen to impress, as kept trying to do it all himself.

Will Harris: 6/10

Solid effort on his full debut. Had two notable efforts on goal, one just past the post in the first half and then one well saved after being played through by Neil in the second half.

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Subs

Stephen Wearne: 7/10

Looked lively when he came on and was obviously keen to make an impression, which he did when he bundled home what turned out to be the winner.

Luke O’Nien: 6/10

Came on, went up front, came off.

Elliot Embleton: 6/10

Looked very confident when he came on for the injured O’Nien.

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Man of the Match: Dan Neil

Ollie Younger ran him close but Neil was a class above tonight. Scored one great goal, had a hand in all Sunderland’s best play, put in the cross for the second and Lincoln couldn’t get near him, regardless of whereabouts on the pitch he was.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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