Campbell comes to Sunderland’s rescue
The former Manchester United striker will rightly dominate the headlines, scoring just 15 minutes into his return from a 17-month injury absence.
“I’m just delighted to be out there,” he enthused after two career-threatening knee ligament injuries.
“It’s hard to put into words the frustration I’ve suffered while I’ve been out, and equally how good it feels to be playing again. It’s been a tough 17 months and I’ve been kept going by the thought of days like this.”
Campbell’s previous appearance on the scoresheet had arrived almost two years ago, but he showed little sign of rustiness as he wiped out Barry Robson’s first half goal for the visitors with a confident finish just before the hour.
The 24-year-old produced an unflustered first-time effort to beat Danny Coyne from 10 yards, after running onto a perfect 59th-minute through ball from James McClean.
“We handed them the equaliser on a plate,” Tony Mowbray admitted.
“I’ve got to give my players credit for the spirit they showed because it’s only a couple of weeks ago that Sunderland were beating Manchester City. We could have lost a bit of heart after they levelled but if anything, we looked the stronger team after that.”
Middlesbrough had more than held their own against their lofty hosts when Robson latched on to John O’Shea’s weak clearing header from a Faris Haroun cross, showing impeccable technique to volley left-footed past Simon Mignolet.
Without their hamstrung skipper Lee Cattermole, Martin O’Neill’s side eventually began to stamp their authority on the tie. Giovanni Trapattoni will have noted that McClean twice went close, his shot blocked by Coyne after he had been released by a Wickham flick, then heading straight at Coyne from a David Vaughan cross.
Sunderland felt they should have gone in on level terms after they had an effort ruled out in controversial circumstances. Craig Gardner appeared to handle as the Sunderland midfielder sent a low left-footed effort into the bottom corner off the post.
Celebrations were cut short, however by the assistant referee’s flag, not for Gardner’s sleight of hand, but an offside decision on Wickham.
“Whether it was handball or offside, the referee made the right decision,” Mowbray insisted.
Predictably, O’Neill saw it differently: “I’ve not seen it back. I’ve been told it’s been given for offside and it wasn’t offside. There’s a suggestion of handball, but it should have stood because Wickham, who was flagged offside, hasn’t touched the ball.”
There was still time for Lukas Jutkiewicz, the forward making his full debut following a €1.8m move from Championship rivals Coventry, to spurn a glorious chance for Boro.
The 22-year-old’s initial shot was blocked by Mignolet, and when he was afforded a second bite of the cherry, the unmarked striker fired wide.
Sunderland made the most of their good fortune courtesy of Campbell’s unflustered finish. McClean’s close-range effort found the side-netting in stoppage time, but a winner would have been harsh on Boro.
“I’m delighted we’re still in the cup,” said O’Neill. “We were sloppy early on, and gave them a foothold. They deserved their lead but we showed a lot more urgency in the second half, and that was epitomised by Fraizer. We deserve to be still be in the hat.”
SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Mignolet 6; Bardsley 7, O’Shea 6, Brown 6, Richardson 6; Larsson 5, Gardner 7, Vaughan 6, McClean 7; Sessegnon 6, Wickham 4 (Campbell 46, 7). Subs: Colback 6 for Vaughan (80), Campbell 7 for Wickham (46).
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Coyne 7; McMahon 7, Hines 6, Bates 7, Hoyte 6; Robson 7, Williams 7; Haroun 7, Emnes 5, McDonald 5; Jutkiewicz 6. Subs: Ripley 6 for Coyne (80).
Referee: Kevin Friend.
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