The lads earned a hard-fought three points to keep the 100% home record intact, after the game had seemed all lost. Enduring an early goal only to be disallowed, then a penalty harshly but probably rightly given against Reinildo and then Brentford eking out an early lead – it felt maybe it just wasn’t going to be one of those days despite arguably being the better side all afternoon.
But as the lads sauntered back to the halfway line, you heard the South Stand and SWC start to sing again. The crowd,
trying to lift the player’s spirits after the goal, had roared back into life and refused to be beaten. And the Sunderland players responded. From the moment that Igor Thiago’s goal went in, we dominated proceedings. We dominated the play, we played well, but the final ball just eluded us. Until that final 15 minutes when the lads, likewise, just refused to sit down and take it – a whole new squad, with only Hume and Mayenda surviving in the starting lineup from the Wembley, embodied that playoff spirit and fight, and played ‘til the end.#
We lacked quality in the final third at times, and we need to create more chances in general; however, in terms of our counter-attacking potency, competitiveness and sheer graft and desire, you can’t knock this team.
It was a game full of big moments – Outtara’s goal and our old marra VAR bailing us out again, the challenge by Reinildo on whoever it was in that hideous brown away kit and subsequent penalty save from Robin Roefs, their goal and Nordi Mukiele losing Thiago on the cross (despite being absolutely excellent alongside Alderete for the other 97 minutes), our big chances through Talbi’s miskick and the Mukiele shot, Diarra firing agonisingly wide twice, Alderete’s chance, and then the final 10 minutes. I usually write these match reports giving a summary of the game, but right now it feels right just to focus on that final 15 minutes first.
Firstly, Wilson. How can you not love the bloke? He just exudes charisma, and you can see he absolutely loves being here. And he scores goals; mint goals, bad goals, all types of goals. He came on, worked his socks off and ran Nathan Collins ragged before peeling off his back to power in a bullet header in the 96th minute, sang wise men say with us and didn’t stop crying until he left the pitch – and to be fair, neither did we.
In the build-up, Xhaka released Enzo with a delicious chip out wide, who held the ball, delayed and played it back to the captain, who followed his run and whipped in a perfect ball to Wilson’s lush head. The pair were outstanding today, dictating play in the middle while Enzo had basically a free role in possession, and he was everywhere. It was a real performance of note, telling Regis that he dare not drop him ever again. But it was made possible by Reinildo’s tireless running down the left, covering the entire wing on his own as Enzo was allowed to cut inside, create overloads and pick apart Brentford when the opportunity arose.
It may be early in the season, but despite spending over £150 million in the summer, our best summer signing may be the cheapest. However, other new signings excelled. Robin Roef’s composure, calm demeanour and general ability are already on show this season – while his penalty save was excellent, it was again his command in the area against one of the best set-piece teams in the league and his distribution, which really impressed today. On three or four occasions, he pinged long balls down their right-hand side right onto Enzo’s boot, and really pushed the opposition back, who I thought got their game plan wrong. Want to beat us at home in a tight affair? Stick ten men behind the ball like Burnley did in the second half last week.
Omar Alderete is basically a left-footed, Paraguayan Dan Ballard. He rarely wins an aerial duel or a physical battle, but also possesses a keen first touch and deft drop of his shoulder that makes him excellent at breaking a press – but he can pass too. A quick eye on his stats and analytics ahead of the signing suggested he may struggle on the ball, but it certainly was more of a symptom of playing for Jose Bordalas’ Getafe. To call that man Mike Bassett is probably an insult to Mike Bassett.
We needed to pick up points early, we needed to turn the SoL into a fortress this season – and so far, so good. There will be bumps along the road, and this team – with so many new signings all getting used to being here – can only get better. But the highest praise has to go to those behind the scenes and in particular Regis Le Bris. The attitude, style and high standards that have been implemented here in such a short amount of time is truly astounding.
Sunderland XI (4-2-3-1): Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Reinildo; Sadiki, Xhaka; Talbi (Adingra), Diarra (Guiu), Le Fee; Mayenda (Isidor).
