The Black Cats forward’s future at the Stadium of Light is uncertain but he scored his 16th goal of the season at the Iron.
Sunderland’s hopes of climbing into League One’s automatic promotion places took another blow as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Scunthorpe United in Saturday’s encounter at Glanford Park.
The Black Cats laboured against the Iron in a first half largely bereft of quality, although they did manage to break the deadlock just before the hour mark of the game.
Scunthorpe failed to close down Reece James down the left, who found space to whip in a pinpoint cross which Josh Maja steered inside the near post for his 16th of goal of the season.
The hosts then set about trying to draw level and came close to doing so when James Perch’s effort took a deflection to wrong-foot Sunderland goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin, who nonetheless kept the ball out with his feet.
Sadly for the visitors, they couldn’t hold onto their lead as they were caught out just three minutes from time as Adam Hammill marked his Scunthorpe debut with a powerful strike into the top corner of McLaughlin’s net.
The result means that Sunderland are now three points behind second-placed Luton Town, who thrashed Peterborough United 4-0, and four behind leaders Portsmouth, who lost 2-1 at Oxford United.
Maja’s future at the Stadium of Light is uncertain but following his 16th goal of the campaign, some Sunderland fans urged the club to do all they can to retain him as they spoke out on Twitter:
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