
Sunderland came away with all three points from Pride Park after breezing through the first half. In the second we looked more timid and error prone, as well as being disallowed a goal for who knows why. Ultimately three points is three points though.
ANTHONY PATTERSON: 9/10
He made two crucial saves in the second half for us to hold onto the three points. His distribution seemed improved from Friday night as well, or at least I didn’t have to worry about it as much!
TRAI HUME: 6.5/10
Ultimately was part of a defence that kept a clean sheet but he gave their players out on the left far too much space in the second half which led to a couple of very dangerous crosses. There was some good game management from him to win a free kick deep in our half in stoppage time.
CHRIS MEPHAM: 7/10
Wasn’t troubled a great amount in the first half (aside from blocking a free kick very well) and was generally solid in the second under a huge amount of pressure. A bit of shakiness once or twice perhaps but nothing glaring.
LUKE O’NIEN: 8/10
A good night from him, thought he was doing very well in his more favourable centre back role. When he was moved out to the left he wasn’t completely refined but I won’t hold it against him because he’s just not a left back.
DENNIS CIRKIN: 6/10
He could have scored today with his one chance that just went over the bar. Thought there were more than a few occasions when he struggled defensively however. Combined well with Enzo Le Fee going forward.
CHRIS RIGG: 6.5/10
Didn’t cope too well with the more physical nature of the Derby team, there were a few bright bits with his on the ball work saying that. Ran out of steam later on.
DAN NEIL: 7.5/10
I thought he did brilliantly until the final third where he’d take just a bit too long to decide what to do with it.
JOBE BELLINGHAM: 7.5/10
Had he not been booked for a silly foul and therefore causing him to be a bit more hesitant throughout the rest of the match, I would have been tempted to give him another man of the match after Friday. Before that he was untouchable. Assisted the goal after bursting forward from midfield.
ENZO LE FÉE: 7.5/10
The flashy stuff he was doing was an absolute joy to watch when it worked. Sometimes he should have gone for the more simple option though. Forced a good save from a free kick.
ELIEZER MAYENDA: 8/10
He scored the winner and made some nice runs. Maybe a bit to weak at times, although he did work hard off the ball.
WILSON ISIDOR: 7/10
Made a blistering run around an hour in on the counter attack, the resulting effort wasn’t well placed and was saved though. He maybe could have laid it off to Enzo who was free. Disgraceful that his goal wasn’t counted, no idea why it wasn’t.
SUBS:
DAN BALLARD: 6/10
Hesitated on the ball at one point and nearly gave it away. Other than that he was solid and dealt with their aerial threat well.
PATRICK ROBERTS: 6.5/10
Did well enough but I would have liked him to have made a few more runs to relieve pressure.
SALIS ABDUL SAMED: N/A
Had a limited number of minutes, his first in the league. Didn’t do anything wrong but no rating because he didn’t have much game time.
LEO HJELDE: N/A
The same as Samed really, helped see out the game. Our run with him on the pitch and not conceding in the league continues.