Sunderland 0 Chelsea 1: Match ratings, lots of toil but no reward after injury-time Courtois save

MATCH RATINGS
Billy Jones gets stuck in for Sunderland. Picture by FRANK REIDBilly Jones gets stuck in for Sunderland. Picture by FRANK REID
Billy Jones gets stuck in for Sunderland. Picture by FRANK REID

SUNDERLAND 3-4-3

Jordan Pickford: One brilliant save from Pedro though Spaniard was offside, and couple of good stops after break. Little chance with goal. 6

Papy Djilobodji: Had a fine game as part of a back three, some great defending, especially against Costa. 7

Lamine Kone: See above. 7

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

John O'Shea: Came into the side and, unfortunately, was dragged out of position for the first goal. Good game overall. 7

Billy Jones: Very bright start and was the best early attacking threat for Cats, teed up Borini for chance before having to limp off. 6

Jan Kirchhoff: Worked hard in middle but work was almost exclusively in his own half, subbed 12 minutes after break. 6

Jason Denayer: Fans love seeing a challenge and his slide tackle set up one of the best home moves of first half and first corner. 6

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Patrick van Aanholt: Operated on left of midfield but effectively drifted into a back five, denied by injury-time wonder save from Courtois. 6

Fabio Borini: Thrust back into side having had no match practice, but had one shot which went high and wide. These 80 minutes will have benefited him. 5

Jermain Defoe: Lonely evening up top with just one shot, did tee up Januzaj for best chance and put in a shift. 6

Adnan Januzaj: Like Borini, handed a starting role and put in plenty of running, had the lone first-half shot and best chance early in second, only for Courtois to save. 6

Subs

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Seb Larsson (for Kirchhoff 57): Came on for German who seemed to get a kick. Almost threaded in Defoe. 6

Donald Love (for Jones 59): Took over at right-back and was full of energy. 6

Wahbi Khazri (for Borini 82): Return of the long-lost Tunisian, late cameo for the shattered Borini. N/A

Unused subs: Vito Mannone, Joel Asoro, Josh Maja, George Honeyman

Booked: Defoe 43, O'Shea 45, Borini 72

CHELSEA 3-4-3

Courtois 7

Azpilicueta 6

David Luiz 6

Cahill 6

Moses 6 (Ivanovic 90)

Kante 7

Fabregas 7

Alonso 7

Willian 7 (Chalobah 89)

Costa 6

Pedro 7 (Matic 75, 6).

Unused subs: Begovic, Zouma, Loftus-Cheek, Batshuayi

Goals: Fabregas 40

Booked: Pedro 56, Moses 90

Referee: Neil Swarbrick: Five cards, but a decent match. 6

Att: 41,008