Melker Ellborg: 7/10
Had a shaky start and end, flapping a corner onto the crossbar and then letting a shot through him but made one great tip over the bar which seemed to help his confidence as he looked assured after that until right at the death. Made a few other decent saves.
Alan Browne: 6/10
Did a job at right back for us, couldn’t stop some very good crosses coming in from Diouf but wasn’t ran ragged. Then worked hard in midfield after Rigg came on for Diarra.
Kevin Danso (C): 7/10
Didn’t appear to be any worse for his horror show against Bournemouth,
solid on the ball and a wall defensively. Flung himself at anything around the box.
Omar Alderete: 7/10
Looked more comfortable tonight, no scares with the ball and made a number of good defensive contributions, including clearing a shot off the line after Brentford hit the bar early on.
Dayann Methalie: 6/10
Didn’t give his man an inch all night, getting extremely close to any Brentford player who ventured down his side. Sleeping a few times when crosses came in from the other side though, leaving a Brentford player to have a free header early on and then not getting out quickly enough for Brentford’s first.
Jules Ahoka: 8/10
Another game, another Ahoka masterclass in the middle of the pitch and looked every inch a Premier League player. Used his body well to turn players, read the game superbly and always seemed to be in the right place at the right time to make a defensive contribution. Had a hand in the first goal too when he burst forward and played in Ta Bi.
Habib Diarra: 7/10
Worked hard in the middle of the pitch and provided a bit extra pace on the break, only played the first half but dovetailed well with Ahoka.
Jocelin Ta Bi: 10/10
Ran El Hadji Malick Diouf ragged down the Sunderland right, with the £40m defender having no answer to Sunderland’s tricky winger. Although he got three assists, that could have been more (and less had Talbi not stole the first!). Didn’t give Browne enough support in the first half but improved a lot defensively after the break.
Chemsdine Talbi: 7/10
Played in a more central role tonight and did well, got a goal when he stole one on the line from Ta Bi but his running on and off the ball all night caused Brentford issues.
Malick Fofana: 7/10
Got his first Sunderland goal when he arrived at the back post to head home a Ta Bi cross but had already looked more confident on the ball before that. His defensive work tonight was top notch, hassled and harried Brentford constantly and ran himself ragged for the cause.
Timur Tutierov: 7/10
Never stopped running up top but used the ball well when it came his way too, with some nice touches to find teammates. Got himself a goal when he was in the right place to slot away Ta Bi’s pull back and then made a good run and lay off for the third goal too.
Substitutes
Chris Rigg: 7/10
Came on and was a little terrier out of possession, really pressing Brentford aggressively. Really should have scored at least one but took too long with one effort when he intercepted a pass from the goalkeeper and steered a near post effort wide after great work by Ta Bi.
Luke O’Nien: 7/10
Cleared one shot off the line with his head and helped us get the win over the line.
Thomas Meunier: 7/10
Did much better against Diouf, stopping the wing back from whipping in crosses late on.
Tom Proctor: 6/10
Worked ever so hard when he came on, chasing down everything. Almost got played in by Ta Bi but the goalkeeper just about beat him to the ball.
Felix Scott: 6/10
Came on late on for the tiring Ta Bi.
Man of the Match: Jocelin Ta Bi
Jules Ahoka was very good once again but the man of the match has to be Ta Bi. The winger got a hattrick of assists and caused Brentford all sorts of problems with his intelligent runs. Made a good run for the first and slotted the ball past the goalkeeper, only for Talbi to tap it in on the line, pulled the ball back for Tutierov for the second and then whipped in a great cross for the third. Made most of our best chances, ran a £40m, international full back ragged and was much better defensively after the break.
