Sunderland’s Premier League journey continued with a trip to the City Ground as Régis Le Bris’ side faced Nottingham Forest under the lights. It was another opportunity to measure themselves against established top-flight opposition, and another chance to show the qualities that have defined their return to the big stage so far.
The contest had its share of tension and talking points – as is often the case in the Premier League – and once again it left plenty for supporters to debate long after the final whistle. There were spells of pressure, moments of resilience and flashes of individual quality that shaped the flow of the game.
For Sunderland, this was as much about character as it was about points, with every performance scrutinised as the team continue to adjust to the demands of the division. From the senior figures expected to set the tone to the younger talents tasked with stepping up on the biggest stage, all eyes were on how the squad coped with the challenge.
Phil Smith was at the City Ground to deliver his verdict on how each Black Cats player fared – here are his ratings from the game:
13. Sub - Lutsharel Geertruida
Strong cameo. Defended well and almost scored late on. 7 | Getty Images
14. Sub - Bertrand Traore
Looked after the ball well for the most part with few opportunities to really threaten. 6 Photo: Nathan Stirk
15. Sub - Simon Adingra
Brief cameo but a valuable outlet on the left. N/A | Sunderland's Simon Adingra. Photo by Chris Fryatt.
16. Sub - Brian Brobbey
Like Adingra, offered some fresh legs and an outlet late on. N/A | Getty Images