Enzo Le Fée: The man for the big occasion
Le Fée is a Sunderland superhero, pure and simple.
Disciplined off the ball and magical on it, this was shaping up to be another top class performance from the Frenchman, and that was before his goal.
Presented with the ultimate chance of redemption, he seemed to somehow gain more power and put away a perfect spot kick to save the day.
A late goal to see the team come from behind and earn a point? We’ve seen this script before, and we’re lucky to have somebody as good taking a leading role.
Fluid football from the Lads
This was
a hard game to predict and probably the most eagerly anticipated starting XI so far.
Brentford were bound to provide stiff opposition and Sunderland’s tactics needed to be on point, so when the team was announced, it was interesting to see what the approach was going to be.
Given the hosts’ set piece capabilities, the introduction of Kevin Danso made a lot of sense but what looked on paper as if it was going to be a solid back five soon showed that it was being entrusted to do a whole lot more than just provide a fixed obstacle in front of goal.
Régis Le Bris’ acumen and the flexibility of the players had the Lads shape shifting in the blink of an eye – nothing new in that regard admittedly, but impressive all the same, as was the continued evidence that substitutes matter; not being part of the starting eleven doesn’t mean you’re just there for the ride.
The plans certainly caught Brentford off guard as they struggled in the first half and hour and again when in the latter stages Sunderland employed two up.
This development was of particular interest — it hasn’t been seen much recently but on this evidence, it could be a yet another viable option going forward, and to be able to outwit a team noted for being so tactically agile and as strong at home as they are shows we’re playing to a level that’s sometimes hard to comprehend.
Kevin Danso’s debut…a sign of things to come?
Considering he has only been with the club a few days, and prior to that had played less than 30 minutes of senior football this season, Danso slotted in remarkably well.
We’d been told that he was strong and fast, but seeing him being able to keep pace with the ever-changing tactics was a pleasant surprise, and hopefully a sign of things to come. Competition for places should drive everybody on, and after the summer transfer window the squad appears to be well-stocked in terms of defensive options.
Further up the field gives cause for optimism also.
News of Habib Diarra’s injury is a blow and the rumours of another long term layoff for Romaine Mundle are a massive shame, yet others are stepping up to the plate. Another new boy in Malick Fofana looked bright; Nilson Angulo was sharp and there’s more to come from others too, so whilst an ‘out-and-out’ right winger hasn’t been brought in, there should be enough to fill the void.
Danso slotted in well and after just a few days with the squad, he did well to keep pace.
Sunderland’s evolution continues to gather pace
Not only is the squad expanding, but so too is Sunderland’s ideology.
We’re unlikely to ever throw caution to the wind completely in the first half of a game — not on the road, anyway, — but the half time stats indicated a clear shift from some of the displays seen early last season, when the idea seemed to be ‘safety first’.
The Lads had more touches in the opposition box, more passes and more chances than Brentford in the opening forty five minutes, and could’ve easily taken the lead had things fallen differently. Yes, it was frustrating that Brentford’s goal came from the type of loose ball that Sunderland’s attempts to put away had been charged down, but we remained dangerous in the second half, going long when needed and being able to vary the play.
One move that saw the ball slid in from the left of the penalty area was expertly crafted, and best of all, these advancements and positives seem to be being missed by the vast majority outside of the area.
Brentford are obviously flavour of the month after the way they have begun 2026/2027 and yet a team that finished above them last season and whom few pundits appear to like giving credit to is building up nicely.
Copper-bottomed hits and bums on seats
After the visit of Rennes in pre-season, it was obvious that Sunderland’s similarly pink change strip was unlikely to be used against another club likely to be wearing red and white.
Sure enough, the Elvis-themed kit didn’t get to leave the Academy of Light building this weekend and the Lads took to the Gtech pitch in their blue third option for the first time instead, although the full design we’ve previously seen was amended slightly, with the trim being extended to full copper-coloured socks as opposed to the blue versions made available for retail.
Whether this is to be a one-off remains to be seen but either way, the outfit looked good, as did the side, which is next in action on Tuesday.
Changes to the line up are expected, with possible outings for some of the new arrivals, and it would be great to see a big crowd in for the Hull City tie to cheer them on.
