Régis rings the changes at Selhurst Park
One key question we’ve had plenty of time to contemplate during the international break was who Régis Le Bris would opt for to lead the line against Crystal Palace.
Whilst many, including myself, were expecting Eliezer Mayenda to start, it was actually Wilson Isidor who got the nod after some impressive performances from the bench. Le Bris was asked about the choice before kick off and described it as an “opportunity” for Isidor to start the game, which was fair.
Did he take the opportunity? It’s a difficult
question to answer.
Against Marc Guehi, Isidor faced the strongest challenge he’s had this season and as a result, he had very few chances to actually take. That said, he did link up play well and posed a threat, and it wasn’t a surprise to see Bryan Brobbey brought on for his debut, given how Palace set up with three strong centre backs.
There’s no doubt that Mayenda will get other chances and will prove vital for us over the course of the season.
Sunderland show no fear
It was evident from the beginning that we weren’t there to make up the numbers and inside the first fifteen minutes, you could see the commitment from everyone in the starting eleven, with a clear focus on putting pressure on Crystal Palace’s midfield and sticking close to threats.
We all know how dangerous Palace can be, particularly with quality players like Daniel Munoz and Jean-Philippe Mateta, yet we were able to nullify the threat faced with a calm approach throughout.
One repeated comparison when it comes to Premier League games is to compare it to a game of chess. That summed up the first half perfectly, in particular, with two brilliant managers trying to get the upper hand in a calm and calculated manner.
It also highlighted the danger that established Premier League teams such as Palace possess; Daichi Kamada played a superb pass in the first half that unlocked our entire defence, creating a chance that Yeremy Pino should’ve buried.
Equally, it’s always refreshing to see that we’re capable of producing similar moments, and Simon Adingra grew into the game and provided some very dangerous runs and impressive crosses that we couldn’t quite take advantage of in the first half.
Robin Roefs — the one-man wall!
Now that the transfer window is closed, it’s clear that we enjoyed a fantastic window and that we have a strong, diverse squad.
Whilst there might be a very slight bittersweet feeling that the players who won us promotion to this level aren’t getting much time on the pitch this season, there’s a marked difference in quality that you can see from our new signings.
This was most evident through Robin Roefs’ performance — the man was just immense throughout and although Anthony Paterson is a good shot stopper, Roefs is next level.
The thing that particularly sets him apart — aside from his presence at set pieces and his distribution of the ball — is how strongly he communicates with the defenders in front of him. This was something I felt was glaringly missing last season, yet Roefs has been consistently outstanding this season. He oozes confidence and this transmits itself to the rest of the team.
It’s hardly a bold prediction, but I’m happy to put it out there that Roefs will turn out to be the best, most important transfer for us in recent times.
A brilliant point away from home
Before a ball was kicked, we would’ve absolutely snapped the hands off anyone who offered us a point away from home against a team who won the 2024/2025 FA Cup. However, what was most impressive was the level of dedication and the determination shown by every Sunderland player on the pitch.
It was also clear that we weren’t content to just sit back and take a point as we stuck to our guns and tried to get (another) late winner. There’s a huge sense of synergy between the players, backroom staff and the fanbase — and it’s resulted in seven points from four games in the Premier League.
We were written off by so many pundits before the season even started but I’m beyond proud of how this squad represents the values that we love as fans. Even if it proves to not be enough when thirty eight games have been played, we’re giving the absolute best account of ourselves as a team.
Our amazing away support helps make the difference
To end, I have to commend every single person who was in the away end at Selhurst Park.
From minute one until the final whistle, there was only ever one set of fans that could be heard, and considering Crystal Palace are known for their home atmosphere, it’s no mean feat. You could see the influence that this was having on the squad and it’s something that we’re going to need as our fixtures continue to increase in difficulty over the coming months.
Keep the red flag flying high!
