MATCH REPORT: Wycombe draw 1-1 with Sunderland in their League One encounter at Adams Park

The Blues produced a simply magnificent display against the title favourites, with the Black Cats scoring an underserved equaliser in injury time through substitute Duncan Watmore.

Alex Samuel scored Wycombe's goal on 34 minutes, coolly slotting home from eight yards for his fourth goal of the season.

Wanderers were indebted to a series of brilliant performances all over the pitch to keep their illustrious opponents at bay.

Wycombe made a bright start to the game with Luke Bolton causing problems early on.

Sunderland gave Wanderers an early scare on four minutes when Grant Leadbitter’s corner evaded everyone and almost crept in at the far post.

It was a lively atmosphere inside Adams Park as both teams fought out an even opening 10 minutes in the sunshine.

Wanderers missed a golden chance to go ahead on 17 minutes when Matt Bloomfield released an excellent pass to Nathan Tyson, who’s low cross found Bolton six yards out but he hit it high and wide with the goal at his mercy.

The Chairboys were having a decent spell and had half a shout for a penalty when Bloomfield went down in the area under a challenge from Lewis Morgan but the referee waved away any appeals.

Sunderland hadn’t really created anything of note and Aiden McGeady was being shackled well by Jason McCarthy but he had a shot on 29 minutes which dribbled well wide from 20 yards.

And the Chairboys deservedly took the lead on 34 minutes when brilliant play by Dominic Gape released Paris Cowan-Hall, who crossed to Samuel, who finished coolly past McLoughlin from eight yards.

Samuel’s industry was causing the Sunderland backline some real problems and he had an appeal for a penalty turned down on 39 minutes after clashing with Tom Flanagan.

Sunderland started the second half on the front foot and Flanagan’s header crashed against the bar on 48 minutes from Leadbitter’s free kick.

Wanderers weathered the early storm in the second half well and came back on 51 minutes when Cowan-Hall’s shot was deflected narrowly over.

From the resulting corner, Jacobson’s wicked delivery was a whisker away from Cowan-Hall at the far post.

The Blues were playing some excellent football and Tyson saw his shot on 55 minutes comfortably held after superb work from Gape, Bloomfield and McCarthy.

McGeady had been on the periphery for most of the game but on 63 minutes he showed sublime skill to get away from McCarthy and his cross found Morgan who saw his strike heroically blocked by Anthony Stewart.

The tireless Bloomfield, on his 500th Wycombe appearance, had a big shout for a penalty on 74 minutes but referee Swabey was unmoved at the protests.

Two minutes later, a wonderful pass by McCarthy found Bloomfield in the box and his magnificent volley was superbly tipped over by McLoughlin.

Sunderland had been shackled manfully by the Blues and Allsop produced a brilliant save on 85 minutes to deny Flanagan's header.

However, the visitors scored late on when Leadbitter's piledriver was palmed out by Allsop straight to Watmore who sent the visiting fans into a frenzy.

That goal sparked a huge melee in the dugouts, with Sunderland skipper George Honeyman and Tyson seeing red for their roles.

Marcus Bean then saw red for a second yellow card as the match descinded into farce.

The draw sees Wycombe halt their four-match losing run as they get set to face Accrington on Tuesday evening.

WYCOMBE WANDERERS: Allsop, McCarthy, Jombati, Stewart, Jacobson, Bean, Bloomfield (sub: Thompson, 90), Gape, Tyson (sub: Harriman, 82), Bolton (sub: Cowan-Hall, 27), Samuel. Subs: Ma-Kalambay, Kashket, Owens, Akinfenwa.

SUNDERLAND: McLaughlin, O’Nien, Flanagan, Dunne, James (sub: Matthews, 46), Morgan, Leadbitter, Cattermole, Honeyman (sub: Watmore, 60), McGeady, Grigg. Subs: Ruiter, McGeouch, Gooch, Baldwin, Power.

REFEREE: Lee Swabey