Gav says…
Positive play at points
I thought we were excellent until the sucker punch that came from the first Manchester City goal.
Yes, we didn’t dominate the ball at all, but our game plan was solid and for a good half an hour there, I thought we stood a chance of getting a positive result.
It was good to see Régis Le Bris playing real life 3D chess with Pep Guardiola — from a footy nerd’s perspective, it was great fun. I’m gutted the first goal went in when it did (from nowhere, really), because the longer it had gone on 0-0, the more
interesting it would’ve been.
Dan Ballard — defensive colossus!
The scoreline won’t tell you the full story but Erling Haaland was completely ineffective, and that was largely due to Dan Ballard, who was once again outstanding.
He’s one of the best centre halves in the Premier League at the minute and has played brilliantly against every one of the top sides this season — he’s really at the top of his game right now.
Rayan Cherki’s assist
This is almost a positive, but it has to be a negative because it was against us, but the audacity…the audacity!
I can’t even be mad about Rayan Cherki’s assist for the third Manchester City goal, where he delivered a precise rabona cross for Phil Foden. Sometimes you just have to stand back and admire good play, and I thought that was fantastic.
It’s shite that it happened against us, but there hasn’t been skill like that seen inside that stadium since Matt Kilgallon did the very same thing all those years ago!
Luke O’Nien’s red card
After having such a positive and momentous outing at Anfield, O’Nien came crashing back down to earth when he was sent off for a ridiculous late tackle right at the end of the game.
He got sold short by a crap pass from Enzo Le Fée, but the way he lunged in was dangerous and, crucially, needless. The game was already lost and he just didn’t need to do what he did.
He’s now going to miss three really important games — two of which will see our squad depleted by international call ups. It was idiotic and I’m sure he regrets it, but we’re now without a player we could’ve used for three games, and that’s just irritating.
Ciaran McKenna says…
Sunderland play their part
Despite the final score, I actually think we played quite well. We had some lovely passages of play throughout the game and could’ve scored at least once.
In the first half, we frustrated them with the low block, with only a brilliant strike and a powerful header doing the damage. In the second half, we had two good chances, with Wilson Isidor tackling Ruben Dias on the edge of the box and Granit Xhaka rattling the post.
We were unfortunate that they didn’t go in and if we’d taken one of them, the game could’ve been very different.
Red and white resilience on display!
We didn’t collapse under the pressure that most teams would. A great characteristic that this team has is our hardy resilience, and that was still present.
Being 3-0 down at the Etihad with half an hour to play can often mean a hiding, but we stood strong, defended well, and kept the goal difference down — something that could be pivotal come May.
Dan Neil’s ongoing absence
You’d think that yesterday of all days, Neil might’ve gotten a run out.
Régis Le Bris did the right thing by taking Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki off, but I thought that Neil could’ve gotten on — even as a test to see how he would fare if he is needed when Sadiki goes to AFCON.
He’a clearly well down the pecking order in midfield selection — possibly a hint to his contract situation.
Wilson Isidor’s missed chance
I love Isidor but I also remember his goal drought last season, so I hope yesterday’s chance and the one at Anfield don’t rock his confidence too much.
I will also have it be known that they were both quite difficult chances to take, against two of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Lars Knutsen says…
Sunderland show their fighting spirit
We kept at it, despite the scoreline, and our heads never went down.
I’m sure the plan at half time was to score a goal and make the home team nervous, and sure enough, Wilson Isidor had an excellent chance which brought a great save out of Gianluigi Donnarruma. Soon after that, Granit Xhaka hit the post but Manchester City scored an excellent third — which effectively ended our challenge in this game.
Despite that,we still played a full part in the match in the last quarter, going forward whenever we had the opportunity. It’s no disgrace to lose 3-0 to a team like City, but we’re just not used to such losses in this remarkable season.
Dan Ballard stands firm
I loved the way Ballard effectively neutralised Erling Haaland, who had a quiet game as a result.
The way our big centre back has adapted to the Premier League is one of the stories of the season, because aside from his defensive work, he’s also netted two important goals at the other end.
He summarises what our team has achieved since promotion.
Some occasional defensive lapses
The home team’s goals were outstanding and we couldn’t really do much about them. Unusually, indiscipline was a bit of an issue, and we lost our shape defensively at times.
We’re going to need the whole squad as the Africa Cup of Nations takes place from December 21 to January 18, and Luke O’Nien is an important part of that and the plan going forward.
The pointless foul towards the end of the game did him and the team no favours.
Did “derby fever” creep in a bit early?
A final question: did we throw in the towel too early in this game?
We have Newcastle next so on seventy two minutes, Régis Le Bris substituted Noah Sadiki for Simon Adingra, and Granit Xhaka for Romaine Mundle, which limited our chances of getting anything from this particular game. None of the team had picked up any bookings at that stage, so was our head coach being over-cautious?
We have to trust him on this one, as three points next week are important for us all — not least for bragging rights in the North East.
Malc Dugdale says…
Chances created by Sunderland
While this was always a “free hit” of sorts, we created a few decent chances and on another day we may have got a couple of goals and made it very interesting.
Enzo Le Fée hit the side netting; Wilson Isidor made a great interception and was unlucky that Gianluigi Donnarumma saved with a trailing leg, and others created half-chances too.
If any of them had gone in, we could’ve really given it a go but it wasn’t to be and at times you have to accept the other side were a tad better on the day.
The bigger picture is still positive!
When we looked at the December fixtures, we all saw how tough it was going to be.
After the last few games though, we already had a good return of points with great results against Bournemouth , Arsenal and Liverpool. It has to be remembered that the Lads created this concept of a “free hit”, so now we’ve taken a slight blow, we need to support them through it.
I have to say the travelling fans were amazing despite the disappointing score, and to hear a rendition of “Shearer is a wanker” at 3-0 down put a smile on my slightly disappointed face.
Well done, lads.
Luke O’Nien’s late dismissal
After all the euphoria after his Premier League debut, it was really sad to see a poorly-timed and what was deemed a dangerous tackle send him for a late — yet early — bath.
It was a bad tackle but with the lack of time he’s had on the pitch at this level, he gets a little grace from me.
It’s a shame he can’t be involved in the derby but he’ll support the Lads and do all the things he always has off the pitch all the same.
Some slack Sunderland marking
The first goal was a deflection so we can’t really blame the Lads for that — and the last goal was a cracker and sometimes you have to take your hat off to a great move and cross, and a fantastic header.
The middle goal was the one that annoyed me as it was a lack of focus and application by Le Fée that led to a free header for Joško Gvardiol and that second hit so soon after the first sort of put us out of it
We defended really well for the first thirty minutes and seeing a sloppy goal like that was a tad annoying but the Lads will learn — and they deserve time to do so after the credit they’ve accrued since we came up to a league we certainly look well suited to.
Now it’s on to next week — and a game we really, really want to win.
