Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Reading FC – Saturday 11th February 2023 - KO 15:00

Anthony Patterson: 6/10
Barely had anything to do but didn’t look overly comfortable today despite that.

Trai Hume: 7/10
Really good defensively today and was very good in the air too, often competing against Andy Carroll.

Dan Ballard: 7/10
Really comfortable at the back, with Reading struggling to create anything of note up against Ballard and Batth.

Danny Batth (C): 7/10
Same as Ballard, comfortable all match. Should have done better with a chance from a corner but couldn’t get his header on target.

Aji Alese: 7/10
Not particularly tested defensively down his side and ended up being a threat at the top end of the pitch with a hybrid left-back/striker role for much of the second half.

Edouard Michut: 7/10
Played a really nice ball to Gelhardt that the striker should have scored from and had a good chance himself but could only fire over after chest a loose ball down. Otherwise was solid in possession.

Dan Neil: 6/10
Tidy in the middle of the park without making much of an impact, did put a good cross in that led to a chance that Michut blazed over.

Patrick Roberts: 7/10
Not at his best today but still looked our most likely scorer, with a couple of shots from the D proving dangerous, and so it proved when his determined run gave him an opportunity to score, which he thankfully took.

Amad: 5/10
Didn’t particularly do anything wrong today, just looked a bit tired and not as influential.

Jack Clarke: 5/10
Picked out Roberts well shortly before he went off but really quiet today.

Joe Gelhardt: 5/10
Had a good chance that he could only drag wide but really struggled to impact the game.

Substitutes
Alex Pritchard: 6/10
Gave us a bit more impetus after he replaced the seemingly tired Amad.

Isaac Lihadji: 6/10
Looked very exciting on his Sunderland debut, only had a couple of chances to get going but looks like a good impact player.

Luke O’Nien: 6/10
Kept things simple in the middle of the park but did play a really nice ball out to Clarke which ended up with a Roberts shot fired just over.

Abdoullah Ba: 6/10
A brief appearance for the midfielder and no real chance to make an impact.

Jewison Bennette: 6/10
One good run down the side but also got beat too easily out wide.

Man of the Match: Aji Alese
Alese just about beats Trai Hume to my man of the match, both full backs were very good today but Alese’s added attacking threat in his multiple foray's forward just about shades it. The left back could have had a couple of goals, put in a good cross that Gelhardt couldn’t get any power on in the first half and still wasn’t troubled defensively despite his attacking runs.

 

Andy’s Player Ratings: Sunderland 0-1 Reading - Late Roberts winner secures three points!
https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/20...ding-late-roberts-winner-secures-three-points
Anthony Patterson: 6/10
Barely had anything to do but didn’t look overly comfortable today despite that.
Trai Hume: 7/10
Really good defensively today and was very good in the air too, often competing against Andy Carroll.
Dan Ballard: 7/10
Really comfortable at the back, with Reading struggling to create anything of note up against Ballard and Batth.
Danny Batth (C): 7/10
Same as Ballard, comfortable all match. Should have done better with a chance from a corner but couldn’t get his header on target.
Aji Alese: 7/10
Not particularly tested defensively down his side and ended up being a threat at the top end of the pitch with a hybrid left-back/striker role for much of the second half.
Edouard Michut: 7/10
Played a really nice ball to Gelhardt that the striker should have scored from and had a good chance himself but could only fire over after chest a loose ball down. Otherwise was solid in possession.
Dan Neil: 6/10
Tidy in the middle of the park without making much of an impact, did put a good cross in that led to a chance that Michut blazed over.
Patrick Roberts: 7/10
Not at his best today but still looked our most likely scorer, with a couple of shots from the D proving dangerous, and so it proved when his determined run gave him an opportunity to score, which he thankfully took.
Amad: 5/10
Didn’t particularly do anything wrong today, just looked a bit tired and not as influential.
Jack Clarke: 5/10
Picked out Roberts well shortly before he went off but really quiet today.
Joe Gelhardt: 5/10
Had a good chance that he could only drag wide but really struggled to impact the game.
Substitutes
Alex Pritchard: 6/10
Gave us a bit more impetus after he replaced the seemingly tired Amad.
Isaac Lihadji: 6/10
Looked very exciting on his Sunderland debut, only had a couple of chances to get going but looks like a good impact player.
Luke O’Nien: 6/10
Kept things simple in the middle of the park but did play a really nice ball out to Clarke which ended up with a Roberts shot fired just over.
Abdoullah Ba: 6/10
A brief appearance for the midfielder and no real chance to make an impact.
Jewison Bennette: 6/10
One good run down the side but also got beat too easily out wide.

Man of the Match: Aji Alese
Alese just about beats Trai Hume to my man of the match, both full backs were very good today but Alese’s added attacking threat in his multiple foray's forward just about shades it. The left back could have had a couple of goals, put in a good cross that Gelhardt couldn’t get any power on in the first half and still wasn’t troubled defensively despite his attacking runs.

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But Roberts did stay on, Roberts did score, and Sunderland did win. All that matters

 

Michut was my MOTM. Great battling display in midfield and unlucky not to score when he put a shot narrowly over the bar.

 

we won mate no problem here.

 

Fair point

 

Reading's longest away trip and they had to watch time wasting from the kick off, long balls up to the big lump and players going down if anyone went near them ...

... they'd be so much more at home in L1.

 

Thanks mate if you knew all this at half time I would have been impressed.

 

Bloody awful side them. Terrible.

Great 3 points that, after a tough couple of cup games and a battle against Millwall. Delighted with the win.

 

Ballard was my man of the match today.

 

Ballard and Michut for me

 

Being ****e cost them 3

 

Fancy supporting that shower

 

What? I replied to your message from after the game? The subs were fine, and we won so I don’t get the complaining

 

Aye Michut was good too. So was Hume, but I didn't mention him because I've given him motm for the last 6 weeks

 

exactly

 

Brilliant 3 points that. Once again a never say never attitude. Have to say I thought we looked a bit jaded in parts today. Maybe a game too many for one or two. Hell of a result on that basis. In previous seasons it would have been 0-0. Get them Wembley pennies saved up folks

 

To be fair to a number of teams, if this tactic keeps their head above water for another season then the owners/managers/supporters will settle for it. The future of many championship clubs are at stake. Its a sad state of affairs that nowadays money comes before entertainment for alot of clubs flirting with relegation. Another disease of modern day football.