A number of Sunderland supporters have been left fuming after Chris Maguire didn’t even feature in the playoff loss to Lincoln City.
The Black Cats faced a huge game on Wednesday evening, making the trip to Lincoln for the first leg of their League One playoff semi-final.
It proved to be an extremely disappointing night for Lee Johnson’s side, however, who ended up losing 2-0, giving them a lot of work to do ahead of Saturday’s second leg clash.
One person who didn’t play any part in proceedings was Maguire, who has scored 28 goals in 123 appearances for Sunderland, also registering 26 assists.
When the Black Cats needed a goal, Johnson failed to turn to the experienced Scot, which appeared to be an odd decision, given his pedigree.
It remains to be seen if Maguire is used in the second leg, but it is clearly a decision that many fans would go with.
Sunderland fans angry at Maguire decision
These Sunderland supporters let their feelings to known on Twitter, criticising the decision.
“At the sixty-minute mark last night, you can bet that Chris Maguire was sitting on the bench thinking, ‘Come on, gaffer. Bring me on. I can make a difference here. This is my kind of situation’. Lee Johnson’s treatment of him continues to baffle me”
Credit: @Philip_RJ89
“Chris Maguire needs to start on Saturday”
Credit: @SAFC_Niall
“The whole Maguire thing at SAFC is just weird. You aren’t going to bring him on to see the game out when you’re 1-0 up so surely he’s on the bench for situations like last night where you need a goal. Why have him in the squad at all if he’s just gonna be ignored?”
Credit: @garethhern
“Johnson has been a disgrace in how he has handled the Maguire situation. His own ego has cost the club dearly. Maguire would run through walls for safc yet can get a start…. it’s personal”
Credit: @DarkKnightFTM
“Can’t decide what’s a bigger disgrace, our performance or the fact Maguire wasn’t given 1 minute”
Credit: @davidroper88
“A good manager gets the most from what he has. No one at all can tell me that Johnson is doing that. The treatment of Maguire is insane”
Credit: @_toosb