Phil Smith: I watched Sunderland's draw with Leeds United and these were my key conclusions
Sunderland were back in Premier League action against Leeds United on Sunday afternoon
Sunderland were held to a 0-0 draw with Leeds United at the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon.
While the clean sheet was welcome and stopped the club’s run of four successive league defeats, the Black Cats remain bottom of the early Premier League table ahead of a crucial game against Coventry City on Saturday afternoon.
Phil Smith was at the game reporting for The Echo and these were his key conclusions…
Sunderland go back to basics - and show they’re up for the fight
Any analysis of this game clearly has to acknowledge that the winds swirling above 50mph meant that this was never going to be a classic, full of chances and free-flowing football. Sunderland have now gone three league games without scoring and that is understandably a big concern for fans. There was nevertheless some reassurance to be taken from the fact that Sunderland’s last two games suggests there has been something of a reset, and a very necessary one at that, behind the scenes.
There was an uptick in intensity and energy in Poznan and that continued here, with Sunderland rediscovering that identity which powered their success last season. They defended their box well, gave up few chances and were tenacious in their duels. It looked like a side that realised it needed to do the basics properly and fully understands the position they are now in. Sunderland need to find more quality but that will be helped by the return of key players and the improving fitness of their strikers; the key here being to cut out the silly errors of recent weeks and give themselves a platform from which to build.
Trai Hume’s crunching challenge on Gabriel Gudmundsson and Luke O’Nien’s celebration of a superb challenge near his own goal felt like a welcome return to the spirit which carried Sunderland so far, so quickly. It’s fair to acknowledge that Leeds United’s injury issues through the week undoubtedly left them a little light in forward areas and this was a factor in their display, but if Sunderland can maintain this level of defensive application and quality then they will start picking up points at home in particular.
Never count out Luke O’Nien
O’Nien had looked very well placed to make the left-sided centre back role his own early in the season, having finished the last campaign so well and taken that form into the club’s summer preparations.
Few saw a difficult opening day at Ipswich Town coming but it is to his credit that once again O’Nien’s response to an error and losing his place was not to blame others but to get his head down and be ready for the next chance. There were one or two nervy moments in this game in part because of those swirling winds, but O’Nien got the better of his duel with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and helped set the foundation for his side with a steady performance in possession. The 31-year-old continues to set the bar at Sunderland for high standards, resilience and self reflection. He will surely keep his place for the clash with Coventry City this weekend and rightly so. Sunderland need to fight to turn their form around and O’Nien showed he is bang up for it once again. At this point, we ought not be surprised.
Omar Alderete allows RLB a sigh of relief
Though the point was not the result Sunderland were looking for, they deserve credit for coping with two difficult sequences in the second half. The first was when Nordi Mukiele was forced off with an injury, Leeds growing in confidence first when playing against ten then as Sunderland adjusted to the new set up in the moment afterwards. Then again when Brian Brobbey came off in a pre-planned sub on his return from a hamstring injury, leaving Sunderland without a focal point just at the point Daniel Farke was introducing key attacking players of his own from the bench.
This was a big test for Omar Alderete after his torrid day at Bournemouth last week, and Le Bris must surely have sorely tempted to bring on Dayann Methalie and move Reinildo across as a result. To his credit, Alderete understood the position he was in and kept things simple and off the ball. It was a solid display that got Sunderland something out of the game, and suggests he can come back from a very difficult spell. With Dan Ballard still at least a few weeks away from returning, that will be a relief for Le Bris.
Join the Echo’s WhatsApp SAFC Channel for the latest news, team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join.
A step in the right direction - but two huge games await Le Bris and Sunderland
Sunderland stopped the rot and have given themselves a foundation to turn things around but there’s no getting away from the fact that Saturday’s trip to Coventry City is a big game in the context of the season. The Black Cats need to take forward the solidity of this display but find the quality required to get back to winning ways. Le Bris has been unlucky with availability recently and will hope that a week down the line leaves Brobbey and Habib Diarra in a strong place to further impact key games. Thomas Meunier and Wilson Isidor are also edging closer to a return, which should again help the overall strength of the side. There are some green shoots emerging after a difficult couple of weeks in the league at least, but this brutal schedule and the intensity of Premier League football means there is simply no more time to waste.
Your next Sunderland read: Régis Le Bris addresses Chemsdine Talbi's recent Sunderland absence and Leeds United recall