Ross Stewart scored for a fourth game in a row since returning from injury as Sunderland came from behind to kick-off 2023 with a point against struggling Blackpool. The Black Cats trailed to Shayne Lavery's goal midway through the first half, but Amad and Stewart hit the woodwork either side of half-time before Stewart headed his ninth goal of the season midway through the second period.
Sunderland had chances to win it with Stewart and Amad both going close before Blackpool were reduced to ten men in injury-time when Callum Connolly was sent off for a second bookable offence. But Tony Mowbray's men could not find a winning goal to make it three wins in a row, and they dropped two places to sixth in the Championship table.
Third-bottom Blackpool's winless streak now extends to nine games. Mowbray made two changes to the XI that started Thursday's 4-1 win at Wigan.
READ MORE: Sunderland's recruitment model now set for first real test after Ellis Simms' departure
Top scorer Stewart came off the bench to score against the Latics but returned to the side at Blackpool, taking the place of Ellis Simms who was recalled from his loan spell yesterday by parent club Everton. The second change saw Patrick Roberts come into the side in place of Abdoullah Ba.
Blackpool boss Michael Appleton made four changes, in his case to the side that started Thursday's home defeat at the hands of Sheffield United. He brought in Chris Maxwell, Lavery, CJ Hamilton, and Jordan Thorniley, in place of Dan Grimshaw, Jerry Yates, Jake Beesley, and Dom Thompson.
Sunderland created early chances, but failed to test Maxwell in the Blackpool goal. A loose pass from Blackpool's on-loan Arsenal man Charlie Patino was intercepted by Amad, but he slightly overhit his pass looking to pick out the run of Roberts inside the box and he was unable to bring the ball under control.
Then Jack Clarke delivered a cross from the left which looked to be falling perfectly for Amad at the far post but, under pressure from a defender, the Sunderland man failed to make contact. But Blackpool took the lead on 21 minutes, when Sunderland paid the price for some sloppy defending.
The hosts took a throw in on the right inside their own half, the ball was played to Hamilton and he threaded it into the right-hand channel for Lavery to race into the box and slot his finish past Anthony Patterson. Sunderland responded well after falling behind, and began to apply some pressure.
Roberts scuffed a shot straight at the keeper from the edge of the box, before Clarke got on the end of a Trai Hume cross and his shot on the turn forced Maxwell into a more difficult save at the foot of his right-hand post. Blackpool always looked a threat, however, and they should have extended their lead five minutes before the break when Patterson could not gather Hamilton's low cross but Gary Madine let the Black Cats off the hook when he blazed wide from a tight angle.
Amad created a chance for Stewart, but the striker's shot was blocked at close range by a defender. And then in injury time at the end of the first period, neat work from Hume on the right saw him play the ball inside the box for Amad and he crashed a shot off the crossbar.
Sunderland continued to press for the equaliser in the second half, with Amad forcing Maxwell to get down and turn the ball round the post after good work in the build-up from Dan Neil. Sonny Carey brought a save out of Patterson at the other end, but the majority of the play was heading towards the Blackpool goal.
A surging run from Clarke in the 65th minute saw him tee-up Stewart, only for the Scot to see his first-time shot hit the bar and go over. But a minute later, Sunderland levelled through Stewart.
Clarke delivered a cross from the left which was headed out by James Husband only as far as the edge of the box where Hume got up well to head it back into the danger area, and Stewart glanced in from six yards. Sunderland were well on top, and it became a question of whether they could find a second goal or if Blackpool could hang on.
Stewart had a big chance 12 minutes from the end, when Amad got to the byline inside the box on the left and whipped the ball across the face of goal but while Stewart threw himself at it and made some contact, it was not enough to turn it into the net. And in the final five minutes, Amad had an opportunity himself when Clarke sent in a cross but he could not connect with the goal gaping.
Blackpool had to survive the final three minutes of injury-time with ten men after Callum Connolly was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 92nd minute, but they managed to withstand a wave of late pressure and see the match out.
How they lined up
Blackpool: Maxwell, Connolly, Ekpiteta, Thorniley, Husband, Poveda (Wright 88), Patino (Dougall 81), Carey, Lavery (Yates 73), Madine, Hamilton (Beesley 73). Subs not used: Grimshaw, Williams, Thompson
Booked: Connolly, Poveda, Lavery, Beesley
Sent off: Connolly
Sunderland: Patterson, Ballard, Wright, O'Nien, Hume. Michut (Ba 62), Neil, Clarke, Amad, Stewart, Roberts. Subs not used: Bass, Evans, Dajaku, Bennette, Matete, Rigg
Booked: Michut, O'Nien
Referee: Tim Robinson (West Sussex)
Attendance: 14,117
READ NEXT
Kristjaan Speakman and Sunderland's 'real disappointment' after Simms' recall
Sunderland supporters send January message after Ellis Simms' departure
Tony Mowbray explains his attacking dilemma as the goals flow for Sunderland
Trai Hume's quest for more gametime boosted by his performance
