Sunderland face a quick turnaround over the Easter period, as we follow Friday’s important 2-0 win over Cardiff with Easter Monday’s home meeting with Blackburn. Rovers currently sit 19th in the Championship table, after their 1-0 defeat to Ipswich. Irrespective of their league position, Blackburn still have some talented players, including the Championship’s leading poacher. Here are five players to monitor closely at the Stadium of Light on Easter Monday…
SCOTT WHARTON
Starting this list from the heart of Blackburn’s defence with a player who certainly wears his heart on his sleeve for Rovers. Scott Wharton made his first-team debut for Blackburn in August 2016, during a 2-2 draw with Burton Albion. Eight years later, Wharton is still a significant asset to the Blackburn defence under the management of John Eustace. He has played more than 70 times for the first-team and has plenty of valuable experience at Championship level. Now 26, Wharton is still a player who I could see make the step up to the Premier League during his playing career. His younger brother, Adam, who plays as a midfielder recently joined Crystal Palace for a significant fee- believed to be in the region of £22 million. Scott will be hoping to follow in his younger brothers’ footsteps- although Blackburn’s current league position may be a hurdle in his pursuit!
SONDRE TRONSTAD
A name that may be unfamiliar to some. Sonde Tronstad, like many of the Sunderland squad, is competing in his first season of English football. However, unlike many of the Sunderland squad, Tronstad has made a positive impression to his new supporters. He made his first professional appearance in 2012 for a club in his home country Norway, when many of our squad were still learning their ABC’s! The defensive midfielder featured more than 100 times in the Eredivisie, for Vitesse in the Netherlands. So far, in 2023/24, he has made 29 appearances for Rovers. The Norwegian’s experience in football could be a key factor in what should be an intense midfield battle with Dan Neil.
TYRHYS DOLAN
Moving into the attacking-third- Rovers have some silky forwards, who will need to be closely marked at the Stadium of Light. Tyrhys Dolan is extremely highly rated and, at still just 22, he could certainly have a bright future in football. Dolan’s main asset is his pace, as he is lightning fast and can turn from defence into attack in a flash. He has quick feet and has registered six goal contributions for Blackburn this campaign- scoring four times and assisting twice. Remarkably, those four goals make Dolan Blackburn’s second highest scorer in the Championship this season- but the man coming up next definitely isn’t goal-shy!
SAMMIE SZMODICS
The side 17th in the division have the Championship’s most prolific scorer this season. Better still, he doesn’t even play as a striker! Some Mackems’ may recognise Sammie Szmodics’ name from his time at Peterborough United in League One, where he was often linked with making the switch to Sunderland. Given our troubles grabbing goals, and Szmodics’ lack of trouble scoring them, I bet we all wish he transferred to Wearside! Now 28, Szmodics’ is undoubtedly having the best season of his career and the statistics show this. He has scored 21 league goals so far (and counting) but amazingly none of these strikes were converted from the penalty spot. In fact, Rovers are yet to score a penalty in the Championship all season (touch wood!) Szmodics even scored against Newcastle in the FA Cup- although his popularity may not be quite as high if he fires past Anthony Patterson on Monday!
SAM GALLAGHER
The final inclusion of this week’s ‘Ones to Watch’ is Blackburn’s Sam Gallagher. Another man who has been linked with Sunderland- but then again Zlatan Ibrahimovic was at the bottom of our shortlist once! Gallagher, like Ibrahimovic, (sort of) knows how to hold-up possession- albeit not as effectively as the iconic Swede. However, the Rovers’ forward’s aerial presence and physicality could cause problems to our defence. Gallagher isn’t necessarily a lethal scorer, with only three goals this season, but he creates space for Dolan and Szmodics to play in. Interestingly, Gallagher has previously represented both Scotland and England at youth-level. He even made his first-team debut against Sunderland in the League Cup in 2013, after replacing Gaston Ramirez as a late substitute. He was absent from Rovers’ last match through illness, though, so his inclusion in the squad is still to be confirmed!
OVERVIEW
After a very ‘Good Friday’ for the Black Cats, and a superb performance from Adil Aouchiche in Wales, we must be aiming for consecutive wins. Confidence should be high after a flawless Sunderland performance in our 2-0 victory last match. Keep Szmodics silent and we should get over the line- although that is much easier said than done!
