WILL GRIGG'S NOT ON FIRE AFTER HOWLER

Let-off as Dons end wait for away win

- Chris Dunlavy

WILL Grigg’s Sunderland misery plumbed new depths with an astonishing miss less than a yard from goal.

Trailing to goals from Cameron Jerome and Scott Fraser after Max Power’s early opener, the home side looked certain to equalise when Lyndon Gooch robbed Dean Lewington and played an inch-perfect ball across the six-yard box.

But Grigg, a hero of the Dons’ promotion campaign in 201415, somehow skewed a bobbling effort straight across the goalmouth and out of play for a goalkick.

It was the latest ignominy to befall the Northern Ireland striker, who has scored only five times since a £4m move from Wigan to Wearside in January 2019.

Hooked shortly afterwards, he then had to watch as Andrew Fisher made a string of fine saves to seal a deserved victory for the visitors.

“Will’s worked his socks off for the team,” said Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson, whose side missed the chance to climb into the top two. “That’s the first thing to say. But he knows, and he’s the first to hold his hand up and say that you have to make chances like that count.