Sunderland progressed into the 4th round of the Carabao Cup with their first victory in the tournament since 2021 after playing out a 1-0 win against fellow Premier League side Hull City, inflicting the visitors’ first defeat of the season. How did the match play out?
Régis Le Bris made wholesale changes from the draw at Brentford on Saturday, which was to be expected with a further three games in 10 days before the first international break of the season. Melker Ellborg came in for Robin Roefs in goal,
with Roefs being given a full night off as Simon Moore took a place on the bench. The back four consisted of Trai Hume, Luke O’Nien (C), Omar Alderete, with his first start of the season, and Dayann Methalie coming in for his debut. Fellow debutant Jules Ahoka and Chris Rigg took up the midfield positions, with a trio of Jocelin Ta Bi, Chemsdine Talbi and full debutant Malick Fofana playing behind Wilson Isidor up top, Talbi taking up an interesting position in the 10.
It was a fairly slow start to the game. Hull had an early penalty shout waved away after a coming together between Luke O’Nien and Robinio Vaz. On another day, this could easily have been given, although it wasn’t a clear error by the referee in my opinion, and in the Premier League I’d imagine VAR backing whatever decision the referee made in this instance, but we may have got lucky with no VAR in action tonight. Hull had another half chance when Ellborg rushed off his line, but Mohamed-Ali Cho put his lob well wide, clearly put off by the aggressiveness of the young ‘keeper.
The first half produced very little in terms of chances, with the Lads restricted mostly to efforts from distance, a few coming through Jules Ahoka, who forced Dillon Phillips into action in the Hull goal on a couple of occasions, and a strong effort from Chemsdine Talbi following a good drive up the pitch that also forced a save. Ahoka also had a header saved well by a combination of Phillips and the post, coming close yet again to getting off the mark nice and early in his Sunderland career. The first half petered out, with the most exciting action being Isidor having a bit of a tactical whitey just outside the Hull box.
Whatever Régis said at half-time worked. Sunderland came out much quicker and immediately started playing their football higher up the pitch, Talbi and Rigg in particular pulling the strings by drifting to the left and right wing respectively, although chances remained at a premium while the Lads dominated the ball. Thomas Meunier soon came on for Dayann Methalie, who really grew into the game, showing some powerful running and strong dribbling ability in the second half to get up the pitch.
Meunier was involved as Sunderland broke the deadlock in the 71st minute following a Hull corner taken by former player Joe Gelhardt. Sunderland cleared the ball before Fofana flicked the ball up the pitch to Meunier who, under pressure from a couple of defenders, lobbed the ball over the top of the defence for Talbi to sprint on to. A brilliant headed first touch and a burst of pace pulled Talbi away from the defender before the Moroccan pulled off an audacious yet brilliant dink over the Hull goalkeeper and into the back of the net. It couldn’t really have been anyone else after the recent rumours, could it?
After the goal, Sunderland looked really bright, play became quicker, and Hume, Fofana and Talbi began to link up very well down the left flank, with some brilliant footwork from all three at times to create crossing opportunities for each other. Fofana soon came off along with Wilson Isidor to be replaced by Alan Browne and Timur Tutierov, with Talbi also coming off towards the end of the game with a bit of cramp, being replaced by Tom Proctor for his first-team debut.
The last 10 minutes or so were fairly quiet and without incident. Omar Alderete played a couple of loose passes that threatened to give Hull opportunities, but the Lads recovered well and helped to keep Ellborg’s goal safe, the Swede having very little to do in the second half. Tutierov and Proctor were full of running, Tutierov having a half chance from a ball played over the top that was hacked into the South Stand. Alan Browne was combative and put in a shift in the centre of the park, providing some important experience next to Ahoka to see the game out.
Overall, it was a fairly comfortable 1-0 win. It was important to see players like Alderete and Ta Bi play 90 minutes following their injury problems, although the pair both looked knackered by full-time. The new lads all looked solid, Fofana and Methalie grew into the game and looked dangerous in the second half, whilst Ahoka was imperious from start to finish, a man mountain in the midfield who isn’t scared to get stuck in, isn’t scared to have a go and can’t half shift for a big lad. Not to get carried away, but I think we might have signed the 2013 version of Yaya Touré.
Most importantly, we’re in the hat for the next round, the last 16, and a favourable draw could yet give hope of a Wembley trip in early 2027. As always, though, we’ll take it one game at a time, and keep an eye on the draw on Wednesday 16th September, although we’ll be a bit preoccupied with the visit of AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League to care too much about that on the day.
Could the Lads be up for the cup this year? Let’s see, but it’s a great way to start.
