If we start getting clean sheets the rest of the league is ****ed. I mean it’s only one but yano, positivity and that...
Player Ratings DISCLAIMER: Player ratings are a wholly subjective number purely meant as an indicator for the fans who didn’t watch the match. Jon McLaughlin, 6/10: Never tested. Comfortable throughout the game, but too often his kicks went straight out for a Bristol goal kick or gifted possession to the opposition. Luke O’Nien, 7/10: Incredible work-rate, fantastic attitude, and of course scored the opener. Let down by a rash foul that earned him a yellow card in the first half, and at times was understandably poor in his positioning for a full back. Jimmy Dunne, 7/10: Much better from him, looked like he’d maybe struggle again to begin with but put an early mistimed header or two behind him and settled into the game nicely. Let down by Cattermole’s backpass straight to Clarke-Harris, and booked as a result, but hard to blame him. A base to build from. Tom Flanagan, 7/10: Like his partner, initially struggled with the runs of Bristol’s two strikers, and gave away some poor fouls, but grew into the game and communicated well with Dunne. Earned his clean sheet. Reece James, 6/10: Had a solid but unspectacular game. Booked for a daft high tackle on Rodman that meant we had both full backs treading on eggshells. Lee Cattermole, 7/10: It maybe shouldn’t work, but playing Cattermole and Leadbitter together in midfield has given us a sense of authority both on and off the ball. Kept things ticking over and put in a shift defensively, despite that awful backpass that could have cost us. Grant Leadbitter, 8/10: Absolute class. Showed his control and technique in tight areas and played some quality diagonals that exploited Watmore’s pace in particular and stretched the opposition defence. Has great positioning defensively and when we’re on the ball, is always showing for it and giving an option. Constantly leading the team and communicating both in attack and defence. George Honeyman, 7/10: Industrious captain’s performance. Tracked back plenty of times from his attacking midfield position to bail out the defence, as well as providing that vital pivot from midfield to attack. Aiden McGeady, 9/10: Quiet in the first half, but played a lovely cross for the opening goal and showed his underrated work-rate chasing lost causes. Beautiful free kick for the second goal showed just how good he is, and had the beating of their full backs throughout. Duncan Watmore, 6/10: Bags of pace, bags of energy, but just lacking that final ball. So often he made promising chances for himself and ended up with the ball in the final third, just to run it out for a goal kick. He needs time to reach his heights again, but he’ll get there. Will Grigg, 6/10: Had little in the way of service, showed that he’s a clear upgrade from Josh Maja off the ball, but we’re still not playing to his strengths. Didn’t get a sniff and eventually replaced by Wyke. (SUB) Lewis Morgan, 7/10: Not on for long but really showed his promise with three late runs and cut backs to Wyke that should have been converted. Definitely earned a start. (SUB) Charlie Wyke, 2/10: Did little apart from missing three golden opportunities. Very poor. (SUB) Max Power, 5/10: Brought on to close the game out, not long on enough to make an impression. Man of the Match: Aiden McGeady https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/20...-2-sunderland-another-win-and-clean-sheet-yes
not being greedy but should have boosted our goal difference to Barnsley's. Should have swapped Wyke for Moore !. I am glad Mcgeady stayed with us as well, he has made a huge difference to us, can morgan and Watmore start scoring now.
Win the game in hand and we are ahead anyway. Draw was the best result but would have been happy with a Portsmouth win as well.
