Phil Smith: Four conclusions from Sunderland's worrying defeat at Coventry City
Sunderland are bottom of the Premier League table after suffering another defeat at Coventry City
Sunderland were beaten 3-1 by Coventry City in the Premier League on Saturday.
Phil Smith was there reporting for The Echo and these were his key conclusions…
No doubt about it now - Sunderland are in real relegation trouble
Afterwards, Régis Le Bris said it was ‘obvious’ that Sunderland were now in a relegation battle. At least there is no delusion behind the scenes as to the scale of the task ahead. In truth Sunderland had not played like a team who understood the magnitude of the game and the fight that they are in, but Le Bris insisted that this was the case.
Earlier in the season, Sunderland’s indifferent results at least offered cause for optimism because there were least positives in the general performance level. Since the international break, it has been a very different story. The intensity that hallmarked Sunderland’s rise to seventh last season has been glaringly absent, they have created little and the defensive errors have continued.
Individual mistakes have been the story of Sunderland’s season and that was the case again here, but there was also a lack of energy and a worrying vulnerability every time Coventry City broke forward. In the opening weeks of the season you could see Sunderland trying to evolve as a team and shift to a slightly more possession-based approach, but the lack of confidence as a result of all those errors means it just isn’t viable for them to play that way at the moment. They’ve ended up caught in between, not scoring or creating much but also no longer the spirited defensive unit that everyone hated playing against. It is a recipe for trouble.
The dismal defeat at Bournemouth a fortnight ago suggested this was now a team in a relegation battle and after this latest showing there can be absolutely no doubt. It’s time for Sunderland to start playing like it.
Defensive change is ruining Sunderland’s campaign
There are many issues at Sunderland this season but the level of inconsistency at the back is arguably the number one problem. Nordi Mukiele’s absence here forced Le Bris into another reshuffle at the back, the partnership of Luke O’Nien and Omar Alderete the seventh of the Premier League season already. It simply isn’t sustainable and it is no surprise that the Black Cats have been plagued by defensive errors as a result.
Omar Alderete looked to have turned a corner against Leeds United and Brentford but then endured a torrid second half here, eventually ending in his red card just minutes before the full-time whistle. If anything summed up the inconsistency on Wearside so far this season, this was it. Kevin Danso started his Sunderland career brilliantly, but then saw his form badly tail off. O’Nien lost his palace after opening day, was superb against Leeds and then struggled at times here. Le Bris will know that he needs to find answers but he also needs a bit of luck. If he can get Mukiele and Dan Ballard on the pitch consistently, things will improve. This much is obvious, but right now form, injury and suspension is conspiring against the Sunderland head coach.
Time to freshen things up
Le Bris came into the campaign with the understandable thinking that the way to go was to keep some continuity from the XI and the structure that ended last season in good form. There were some promising signs at times in the opening games of the season, Ipswich aside, but there is a clear need for freshness now. Too many players are simply nowhere near the levels they hit last season and one of the alarming aspects of this defeat was that Coventry City looked sharper and stronger. Whether that is down to confidence, motivation or sheer fatigue in a squad that has had huge international commitments over the last six months, something has to give.
Many of Le Bris’s rotation options are young, inexperienced and so will inevitably make mistakes. But they will also bring legs, energy and a little bit of fearlessness that is clearly lacking right now.
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Difficult day comes with a significant sting in the tail
Mukiele’s absence was a significant blow to Sunderland’s prospects here, though there was at least confirmation from Le Bris afterwards that he should be ready to face Chelsea next weekend after coming through the concussion protocol. Put simply, he will need to be at his absolute best if Sunderland are to have any chance.
Mukiele’s absence had to an extent been anticipated, but Habib Diarra’s had not. Sunderland had brought him off at half time on Thursday night to manage his workload and ensure he could play a big part, but Le Bris confirmed afterwards that he had subsequently picked up a new muscle injury in training. Though the severity is not yet confirmed, he will clearly struggle to feature this week. The international break that follows might come at a good time for Diarra and Sunderland, but it is another setback for a player who just cannot get any momentum on Wearside.
Your next Sunderland read: Everything Régis Le Bris said on Coventry City defeat, the situation at Sunderland and his future