Player Ratings: Sunderland 5-3 Carlisle - Maguire on fire as Lads make it through to next stage

Remi Matthews: 4/10

Made one sharp parry to keep Sunderland from going two down early on, but his performance was defined by his desperately poor decision to take out a Carlisle striker giving away a sixth minute penalty and his feeble parry to concede a second.

Brandon Taylor: 5/10

Looked nervous all night, he just couldn’t stop passing to Carlisle players in the first half.

Bailey Wright: 5/10

Not at his best, struggled in the air and was caught on his heels for Carlisle’s third goal.

Luke O’Nien: 8/10

Was surprisingly effective in a new position. Looked like a lifelong centre back throwing himself into last ditch challenges, his passing was excellent throughout too.

Jack Diamond: 9/10

Just plays with an infectious energy. Not everything Diamond tried came off, but when he did make mistakes he quickly won possession back more often than not. His pace and ability to beat players at speed sticks out like a sore thumb in this Sunderland squad. His goal was the icing on the cake, an absolute unsavable beauty.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

George Dobson: 8/10

Dominated the midfield. Dobson must have won the ball back a half dozen times in the first 45 minutes alone. Maybe due to fatigue or a lack of concentration, Dobson became increasingly sloppy and spoilt an otherwise excellent performance, with some loose passes in his own half late on.

Max Power: 8/10

Like Dobson, Power competed excellently in the middle and played with great intensity when Sunderland were out of possession. Used the ball intelligently and played some impressive switches to Diamond throughout.

Denver Hume: 7/10

His tackling and aggression was a real plus again, took his goal well too, he continues develop into a more well-rounded wing back.

Daniel Neil: 7/10

Sunderland’s best player in the first 20 minutes, like Diamond, Neil brings something different to this Sunderland squad. Neil’s close control and ability to carry the ball in half spaces should earn him League One minutes sooner than later.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Chris Maguire: 8/10

An ideal showcase for Maguire’s match-winning qualities. He got himself on the scoresheet twice and set up another without ever dominating the game like we know he can.

Charlie Wyke: 5/10

Recovered from a first half horror show, to record an assist and score himself in the second period.

(SUB) Aiden O’Brien: 7/10

Was a decent outlet in a nervy final ten minutes for the Black cats, did a great job not only holding up the ball, but bringing others into play.

(SUB) Danny Graham: 7/10

Produced some brilliant centre forward play to lay on Diamond’s rocket.

(SUB) Jordan Willis: n/a

Brought on as a precaution late on to secure the three points, after Sunderland somehow let their League Two opponents back into the game.

Man of the Match

Jack Diamond