RENNES REPORT
- BY BEN HARDIE
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Sunderland concluded pre-season with a 2-1 comeback win at home to Stade Rennes. The French team took the lead via a dubious penalty in the first half but second half goals from Brian Brobbey and then Trai Hume reversed the result. It was a similar performance to the one at Lens last week, that is, encouraging.
When the lineups were announced we were told that Thomas Meunier would be absent from the squad due to a minor injury sustained in training. I'd imagine it’s probably just precautionary at this stage (there’s no reason to risk him) but it is a shame. He played well in our last game and, obviously, he’s the only new face who’s actually signed so far. Eliezer Mayenda was also absent from their starting XI, I think most would have liked to see him start. At least he managed to get onto the pitch in the second half, to a warm reception featuring applause and his chant. Who knows, we might face him again given that Rennes are in the Europa League this season.
10 minutes after kick-off I managed to actually get into the ground, the issue seemed to be some people’s tickets flashing up red on the turnstiles. Ticketing issues continue to blight the club’s positive atmosphere, it’s really poor. The whole ground (or at least the lower bowl) should have been opened, people with accounts should have been able to buy more than one ticket (it was never, ever going to sell out) and major changes to people’s accounts should have been done well in advance of the new season. Basic stuff, there was an attendance of about 16,500 which could have easily been 20,000+ with better management/planning. The stadium itself has had some changes as well, the dugouts have been expanded, the nets have been too and are now white instead of red and white. I can’t help but think of it as a bad omen though, we had white nets during the ill-fated 2023/24 campaign however I’m sure it won’t actually be. Unfortunately the pink seats are still very much present, which will surely be high up the list to sort out before 2027/28 gets underway. They’ve poured money into the Stadium of Light in the last few years but replacing them would go far in terms of how matchdays look/feel.
We played well in the first half but were lacking any real end product then they were afforded a penalty under very dubious circumstances, with Dan Ballard being penalised, I’m sure he got the ball though. Robin Roefs actually got a hand to it but it was a solid hit and it still flew past him. At the break, they played the advertisements for all three of the new kits. The marketing has come a long way from the League One/early Championship days, it’s great to see. The second half saw us turn things up a gear, Brobbey nicked a goal through determination essentially; even after he initially lost it. Then Hume capitalised from a corner to complete the turnaround. Wilson Isidor missed a sitter, Brobbey could have gotten another one but just blasted it and Romaine Mundle hit the bar from a free kick. Mundle looked bright but he needs to be quicker with his final ball/shots as he has a tendency to dawdle. It looks like he’s getting there though. Similar conclusions can be sensibly made about Nilson Angulo I feel. Other good chances included Isidor nearly scoring from the byline, sending a ball in which hit the post, almost catching their goalkeeper out and Reinildo having a diving header saved. Overall, a good day at the office.
At half time there were reports from France that a deal for Dayann Methalie was nearly done. By the time the football got back underway it was unofficially confirmed as completed from reliable sources. Finally we can begin to put this behind us and move onto other targets. 30 million euros on a five year deal. I always felt it would get over the line and it’s great we’ve avoided another Jhon Lucumi situation. I wonder which position we’ll target next, a centre back perhaps? Goalkeeper? Central midfielder? I can't see us going for a winger after offerring Mundle new terms but who knows.
