PLAYER RATINGS: BRIGHTON

Sunderland lost to Brighton and Hove Albion at the Stadium of Light by a goal to nil. A second half goal from Yankuba Minteh gave the away team all three points.

MELKER ELLBORG: 7/10

He made three decent saves in the first half, particularly the first one he had to make, but I think he could have done better with the goal.

LUTSHAREL GEERTRUIDA: 6/10

Forced a save from the goalkeeper late in the first half but didn’t contribute a lot other than that.

DAN BALLARD: 6/10

Not at his best today but it’s incredibly concerning to see him going off injured so close to the derby.

OMAR ALDERETE: 6.5/10

Came away with the ball more often than not but his passing wasn’t great.

TRAI HUME: 5.5/10

Bad defending from him was one of the primary causes of their goal, he did get a tad unlucky with his ball that eventually led to the offside goal though.

GRANIT XHAKA: 5/10

Sluggish and didn’t (or perhaps couldn’t, I think he’s still feeling the effects of the injury he’s been recovering from) challenge vociferously enough to come away with the ball.

NOAH SADIKI: 7/10

Definitely one of our better players today, it’s a shame nothing came off for him and I think our players missed chances to pass to him in good positions a couple of times too.

CHRIS RIGG: 7.5/10

So unfortunate to have a first Premier League goal taken away by VAR. He was covering every blade of grass in the first half especially. The quality wasn’t always there but that’s an improvement on some who didn’t have any.

HABIB DIARRA: 4/10

Got bullied all game and just didn’t look bothered. Should have made more of an effort to get back up in the build up for their goal.

CHEMSDINE TALBI: 6.5/10

A more fortunate day would have seen him score but it was cleared off of the line. Not great other than that aside from a couple of bright moments that didn’t result in anything of substance in the end.

BRIAN BROBBEY: 5.5/10

Sent his one proper chance well over and found it difficult to get onto the ball.

SUBS:

LUKE O’NIEN: 6.5/10

Was bombing down the right hand side when most of our players looked exhausted or like they had given up. He wasn’t always effective in what he was trying to do but the effort was there at least.

ELIEZER MAYENDA: 5/10

Struggled even more so than Brobbey to get ahold of the ball.

DENNIS CIRKIN: 5/10

Wasted a shooting opportunity in stoppage time by firing it well beyond the crossbar.