An underwhelming display see’s Sunderland drop points away to bottom of the league Rotherham...
Last time out, Michael Beale picked up his first win as Sunderland head coach, after Jack Clarke curled in an absolute beauty to secure all three points against Hull. Although it wasn’t a high scoring affair, the result was much needed and it certainly uplifted the mood here on Wearside.
However, consistency is key and the lads needed to build on Tuesday's result with a win against struggling Rotherham. The Millers went into this game bottom of the table, despite picking up a shock 1-0 win against Middlesbrough last time out. Luck was certainly on their side that day, but I’m sure Leam Richardson was more than happy to see his side pick up a much needed three points.
Starting 11: Anthony Patterson, Luke O’Nien (c), Dan Ballard, Trai Hume, Jenson Seelt, Pierre Ekwah, Dan Neil, Adil Aouchiche, Patrick Roberts, Jack Clarke, Jobe
Beale brought in Adil Aouchiche for the injured Bradley Dack, but other than that it was an unchanged 11. However, both Aji Alese and Jewison Bennette returned to the bench.
The Lads got things underway, and it became clear that Jobe was up top with Aouchiche sitting behind him. Like most Championship games, the first few minutes saw both sides have brief possession of the ball, all whilst not creating anything of significance.
However, as time went on Sunderland took control and it was clear that we were slowly building momentum. The home side were hitting it long and struggling to maintain possession.
Patrick Roberts volleyed away a clearance with his right foot and ended up going down holding his left knee. After receiving some medical treatment, the decision was made to sub him off for Abdoullah Ba. Another injury for us to deal with, it’s the last thing we need 8 days away from a derby. On the bright side, he did manage to walk off the field.
Dan Neil had our first good shot of the game. His right footed effort from outside the box went just shy of the near post. As we pushed into the 20 minute mark, Sunderland began to get men forward.
However, we had a big scare when Sam Nombe caught us on the counter. Thankfully, Dan Neil recovered well and Anthony Patterson saved it. Patto was then forced into making another good save from the corner that came just after. Nombe then had another strike saved, and Luke O’Nien nearly scored an own goal from a scramble. It was a mad few minutes that all stemmed from that counter attack. Rotherham grew in confidence and began to press us more. Half an hour had past and we had yet to test Viktor Johansson.
Jack Clarke drove up the left flank and won our first corner of the evening. It was played along the ground to Ekwah and then whipped back in by O’Nien. Unfortunately, nobody got on the end of it.
Clarke gave away a set piece, that was pinged into the box and came to nothing. However, we needed to careful when giving away set-pieces because the hosts had some size.
Just like in previous weeks, we had possession but lacked that killer pass. Jobe picked up a yellow card for a foul on Christ Tìehi. It was harsh to be fair, it was probably just a free kick. That was followed up by a headed attempt from Hakeem Odoffin, we were fortunate he didn’t make more of it.
The Lads began to look very lacklustre in the final third. We often made the wrong decisions and gave away the ball. There wasn’t enough flair or creativity. To be fair, Aouchiche and Ba linked together a few good passes, but couldn’t get the ball into the box for a shot on goal.
Jobe then conceded a free kick right before half time. The ball was put into the box by Sam Clucas, but was very quickly stolen by Jack Clarke who broke up the other end of the pitch. Sunderland couldn’t carve out an opportunity and the whistle was blown.
There was a real lack of quality on display in that first half, it was disappointing because I know this side is capable of more. Rotherham had the much better chances and on another day we could have went into half time 1-0 down. That said, we went in level and a good second half would secure the three points.
Going into the second half Adil Aouchiche was subbed off for Mason Burstow, Beale had decided to put a striker on the pitch. Rotherham kicked off the second half and it was clear that intensity levels had increased.
Burstow was running at the Rotherham backline and even caused Johansson to clash with Sean Morrison. Then straight after that the home side went up the other end and scored. It was an absolutely stunning volley by Sam Clucas, a real goal of the month contender.
Yet again we found ourselves trailing away to Rotherham. Once we kicked back off we finally showed some urgency. Jack Clarke was causing the Millers problems down the left hand side. It’s a shame we had to go a goal down to start moving more.
Sean Morrison headed the ball over the bar from a corner. Not long after that, Trai Hume had a shot on target for Sunderland. I can’t lie I felt deflated at this point, surely the lads weren’t going to lose to bottom of the league.
Sunderland were having possession, but were struggling to create clear cut chances. Luke O’Nien had a solid strike from outside the box, the keeper got his finger tips on it, so it should have been a corner. But, the referee gave a goal kick.
Pierre Ekwah and Jenson Seelt were then subbed off for Alex Pritchard and Timothée Pembélé. It was the right backs first run out for the club. Sam Nombe was then shown a yellow card for a foul on Dan Ballard.
The sloppiness continued though, and we struggled to move the ball around. Despite having more possession than Rotherham, we continued to look absolutely clueless in the final third. It was becoming a painful watch.
Clarke finally whipped the ball into the box and won a corner. Pritchard took it and it led to a Sunderland attack. Pritchard whipped in another ball and it was headed out to Clarke who gave it a whack and what do you know it took a huge deflection and found the back of the net.
We needed that goal and it just goes to show how important it is to put the ball into the box and shoot. After that, we had just over 15 minutes left to find a winner. Luke O’Nien got caught in a high boot collision with Jordan Hugill and conceded a free kick. Thankfully, it didn't make it past the wall.
Leam Richardson then made multiple changes, bringing on the likes of Tom Eaves and Georgie Kelly. After a short lived Rotherham attack, we were back on the front foot. We won a few more corners one of which lead a good strike from Luke O’Nien. It looked like it was going in, but Georgie Kelly managed to block it.
In the last 10 minutes we began to really go for it. Clarke was looking dangerous and Dan Ballard had a shot that went just wide. Tom Eaves was being dirty and he kept sticking his arm in O’Nien’s face. The defender went down with a head injury. He looked a bit dazed but came back on the pitch.
Rotherham had another attacking spell where they got the ball into the box and had a few shots. Six minutes off storage time was added on at the end and we needed to find a winner. Jobe got forward and gave the ball to Clarke who won a corner. Pritchard put the ball into the box, but no one could latch on to it.
Pritchard then whipped in another ball that was met by Pembélé’s head, the full back put it on target, but it wasn’t enough to beat Johansson. We got forward again, but Rotherham had everyone back. Rotherham had a counter attack that was headed wide by Tom Eaves.
The game ended 1-1 and that was a poor performance accompanied by a poor result. That simply wasn’t good enough. Pritchard looked good when he came on and Clarke was lively. But, a draw against bottom of the league is simply underwhelming.
Final Score: Rotherham 1-1 Sunderland
ALS Man of The Match: Jack Clarke: Clarke was the only player who was truly getting forward and trying to make things happen. He also rescued us a point.
