Phil Smith: I watched Sunderland's win over RC Lens and these were my key conclusions

Sunderland stepped up their preparations for the new season with an impressive 2-0 win over RC Lens at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Saturday.

Phil Smith was there reporting for The Echo and these were his key conclusions…

Sunderland offer reminder of their quality amid transfer wait

Understandably, there has been some added anxiety on Wearside this week as the wait for new signings goes on. While an excellent debut here from Thomas Meunier suggests that he is going to be an excellent acquisition, it’s clear that Sunderland need more to ensure they have the depth for a punishing season ahead.

Equally, this controlled performance explains why Le Bris and the club are so content to wait for the right players to become available. Against a side who finished second in Ligue 1 last season and claimed the Coupe de France for the first time in their history, Sunderland had almost complete control. They struggled to turn that dominance into clear chances in the first half, but regularly played into good areas to be denied only by a wrong decision or some good defending. The game felt within their grasp and so it proved as they demonstrated a more clinical edge in the second half.

Perhaps having lost their head coach to Crystal Palace and their star midfielder to Brentford, Lens won’t quite be the same force this year. They still remain a very good side and so it was notable that Robin Roefs had one save of note to make throughout the game.

Sunderland finished last season in good form and playing arguably the best football they had managed all season. Why can’t they pick up where they left off? Granit Xhaka was immediately back to his best here, and Trai Hume offered a reminder that even if his spot on the right wing at times divides opinion, he is mightily effective there and the team generally has benefited from the switch.

Le Bris understands the concern and is eager to get more depth in the squad, but said after the game that the key thing this summer was to retain the existing talent in the squad. This showing was a reminder of what he means. Of course the step up in intensity when the competitive football begins will provide an altogether different test for Sunderland, but it’s one that right now they look well placed to meet.

Starting XI for Ipswich Town clash begins to take shape

Le Bris admitted after the game that while he hoped Nordi Mukiele and Omar Alderete would be fit to face Ipswich Town at Portman Road when the Premier League kicks off, as it stands they are unlikely to start.

As a result, we can probably now have a good sense of what the starting XI is going to look like on opening day, providing of course there are no further injuries over the next couple of weeks. Alderete’s recovery leaves Luke O’Nien ready and waiting, having finished last season in strong form and having impressed with his consistency throughout the pre-season campaign. Similarly, Hume’s latest showing underlines his position in the XI given the way his tenacity and flexibility allows Le Fée and on this occasion Thomas Meunier freedom to roam and attack. It’s possible of course that Sunderland recruit in both of those positions before opening day and possibly at left back, but knowing how Le Bris works and how much he values consistency, he will likely introduce any new arrivals from the bench anyway.

Perhaps the only spot still firmly up for grabs is on the left wing. Nilson Angulo started here, but Chemsdine Talbi made a strong impression from the bench and assisted Wilson Isidor’s goal. Given how much Le Bris rotates his wingers both within games and across fixtures, it probably doesn’t matter too much who gets the nod initially. His selection next Saturday when Stade Rennais visit the Stadium of Light will nevertheless be one to watch.

Jocelin Ta Bi can still be a bonus player for Le Bris this season

Earlier in the day, Sunderland’s U21s had fallen to a 4-1 defeat against a very impressive RC Lens reserve side. They had competed for much of the game, but missed two penalties and tired in the heat towards the end.

Having missed the first of those penalties, it won’t be a game that Jocelin Ta Bi remembers fondly and you could see his frustration towards the end as he gave away some cheap fouls. Having missed three games due to his US visa application being rejected, however, playing 90 minutes here was a big step forward. Le Bris was watching on from the stands and will surely have been impressed with how hard Ta Bi tracked back and the way he always showed for his team mates when under pressure. Sometimes he lost it, but often he spun into space. He won’t be a regular starter and may yet head out on loan later in the window, but this was encouraging and with so many fixtures this year he has every chance of being an impact player despite a difficult pre-season so far through no fault of his own.

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Sunderland’s European tour begins in perfect fashion

The game was a celebration of the two club’s similar industrial heritage, with fans from both clubs mingling throughout the day with no trouble. RC Lens showed their class as Sunderland lifted the unique 1906 Trophy shaped out of coal, and in playing ‘Wise Men Say’ during the half-time interval before the rendition of their own anthem ‘Les Corons’. Fans from all corners of the ground applauded the rendition from the Sunderland fans, as two clubs on the up looked ahead to the new season.

It’s hard to imagine the vibes can be this good all season when competitive football starts, but the red-and-white army here found the perfect warm up for the Europa League journey. Perhaps it could be the start of a more regular association between the two clubs?

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