Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman felt the referee’s decision to abandon the game after 73 minutes was the correct one.

Coleman highlighted that either team could’ve won the game 'from a farcical incident', with the game poised at 1-1 when the referee took the players off the pitch. 

The Stanley boss says player safety comes first after seeing his side sliding around on the wet Wham Stadium grass.

He explained: “I think it was the correct decision, either team could’ve won that game from a farcical incident.

“I said to the fourth official a couple of minutes before Sunderland scored that if either team score then the referee can’t be scared to call it off because it’s getting beyond a joke.

“They did score and then we’ve scored so I think that makes the decision a little bit easier. I think if it had carried on then someone could’ve got hurt.

“That is generally the case when people are diving in to puddles.”

There was a record crowd at the Wham Stadium, but the game was descending in to chaos.

“I think the fans that have come have had their monies worth, for 70 minutes it was two teams going for it," he added.

“There was some good football played and some good chances made. It was some whole-hearted play.”

Coleman thinks his side had the better of things in the 73 minutes that were played.

“I think we just shaded it to be fair. Obviously, they scored a freak goal, we’ll have to look at it again.

“Connor (Ripley) is adamant that he’s handled it, the lads seem to think it’s hit him on the arm also. The safe decision then would’ve been to disallow that, but referee might be right and then it’s a great decision.

“On the balance of play I think we made better chances.”