Sunderland’s attacking players have been lauded this season and they must now deliver at this critical stage of the season.
The likes of Romaine Mundle, Eliezer Mayenda, Wilson Isidor, Tommy Watson, Chris Rigg, Patrick Roberts, Jobe Bellingham have all made a contribution in fits and starts as the team have exceeded pre-season expectations under a new head coach.
The blunt facts are that Regis Le Bris’ side have only managed to score more than two goals on four occasions this term. The only time it happened at the Stadium of Light was in the 4-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday in the first home game back in August. There have been three ‘threes’, at Portsmouth, Swansea City and Middlesbrough.
Mundle and Mayenda have been the most recent scorers in terms of forwards. But seven goals in the last seven games represents a slow down and it’s no coincidence that, in that time, the club have dropped away from automatic promotion contention. It also coincided with the absence of Enzo Le Fee which shows just how important he is in terms of creativity having missed the last five matches.
Wilson Isidor, whose permanent signing was hyped by the club during the winter transfer window, hasn’t scored in six matches, albeit he hasn’t started them all.
Against Millwall he flicked at a one-on-one chance without conviction and allowed the keeper to save. As for his later headed miss from six yards, he proved once again he is as comfortable in the air as Kevin Phillips would be walking a highwire across the Wear waving a Middlesbrough flag.
It is imperative Isidor and the rest rediscover their touch as the team looks to build momentum going into the play-offs.
I found it surprising the forward didn’t want to step up and take the penalty in the second half over Luke O’Nien. Mundle wanted it too. Or why not Bellingham?
A confident Isidor could have banished the demons that he still must have in his head after the double penalty miss against Sheffield United.
In terms of goals there is one statistic that works in Sunderland’s favour as they head into Saturday’s away fixture at West Bromwich Albion.
They scored three goals against Swansea on December 14. They scored three goals against Middlesbrough 10 games later on February 3. They won both matches. They have played nine times since then, so this Saturday is the 10th game of this latest spell. Can Le Bris’ side continue the sequence and score three at The Hawthorns?
Whether or not they can remains to be seen but winning would be a massive statement against a club that could find themselves in the play-offs too.
Having a phycological edge can make the difference between success and failure.
Be the first to comment