2 Up, 2 Down: Sunderland Edged Out In A High-Scoring Classic

The Lads leave empty-handed

There isn’t another negative, other than what an absolute shame we didn’t get anything from the game. Well battled, lads.

Joseph Tulip says…

Three goals on the road

Much has been said about our perceived lack of creativity going forward and a lack of goals from a side which was built on a solid defence. That was turned on its head but it must be acknowledged that we scored three good goals and really took the game to Villa — particularly during the first half and then in the latter stages of the game.

A moment to savour for Trai Hume

Hume has had to settle for a place on the bench recently, but he’s played more minutes than any other player in our squad this season and has made such a huge contribution to what’s been an outstanding season for Sunderland. He took his goal well after coming on as a sub and deserved his moment at Villa Park.

A defensive disaster

We’ve been excellent at the back this season and I’ve enjoyed watching the way we’ve been so well organised and disciplined — both collectively and individually — but we struggled to contain Villa and Ollie Watkins in particular. Whilst they’re chasing Champions League qualification, it was disappointing to concede four goals in a match. We looked so open at times and Luke O’Nien (who’s performed well during his recent run in the team), looked way below the standard required for the Premier League yesterday. I’m a huge admirer of O’Nien and would certainly not bet against him putting this game behind him and responding well in his next appearance, regardless of whether he keeps his place for Forest or not.

A missed opportunity for the Lads

With Premier League safety secured, we had nothing to lose against high-flying Villa and we gave them a real fright, scoring three goals away from home. Habib Diarra’s miss aside, had we defended to the level we’ve done so often this season, we could’ve claimed one of the results of the campaign. It was a missed opportunity to really stake our claim for a top half finish, but all things considered, no damage has been done and there’s no shame in losing at Villa.

Lars Knutsen says…

Sunderland find their range in front of goal

We scored three goals away from home in a very close game against a top team. In some ways, the change of tactics in taking Brian Brobbey off for Wilson Isidor came too late in the game, but the changes worked magnificently as we came back from 1-3 down to level at 3-3. We should’ve crossed more balls in for the Dutchman in the first hour of the game, when he was underused.

The Lads fight until the last kick!

Again, this team, whatever the formation and precise line-up, is totally irrepressible and don’t know when they’re beaten. Aston Villa are a proper football club, but we matched them for much of the game, which strongly illustrates the successful season we’ve had.

A great game for the neutrals

We played our part in a very entertaining game of football. It had everything: Sunderland going behind and making a great comeback, but losing concentration at the very end. Obviously, I would rather have come away from Villa Park with a victory, but the fans I spoke with afterwards, and even the neutrals, found the game engaging, skilful and compelling.

Some sloppy defending proves costly

Normally, this team loves to defend, and does it very well. Being at Villa Park means that I’ve not seen the goals replayed yet, but I would say that at least two came from errors, which is unusual. Perhaps more caution in the first thirty minutes would’ve been called for — even starting with a back five. This team is young and learning, as is our head coach, so the key take-home messages will not be ignored after conceding four goals.

Malc Dugdale says…

Sunderland show their spirit

We took it to a Champions League-elect team and nearly pulled off a huge comeback win on their turf. While the disappointment cuts deep, just read that back and let it soak in. That was us. While we ultimately came away with nothing, coming from 3-1 down to make that such a great game took some huge cojones and our lads did that in our first season at this level. If we can do that now, the sky is the limit next season, as this group will only get better. Ten out of ten for the lads giving it a huge go. Sunderland of the recent past would’ve capitulated and lost that about 6-1, but not these boys.

Great goals for Rigg, Hume and Isidor

The three goals we scored were fantastic, and none of them were by Brian Brobbey. I’d have liked to seen the big fella more involved; he was marshalled well but for three others to step up and score such lovely goals showed a lot of promise and hopefully us a good sign for the run in. We could’ve sat deeply and limited the damage after Villa scored their third, but the lads gave it their all and on another day, we would’ve taken something away. Great finishing by all three, and Brobbey can rest easily as others are there to step up too.

Defensive frailties exposed

I don’t like to dig players out but the combination of how good the Villa strikers were and some errors at crucial times looked to me like this was a stretch too far for Luke O’Nien. Ollie Watkins scored both of his goals by losing a man and being clinical with a good chance. For both goals, he seemed to have had way too much room and I can’t help feeling that with Dan Ballard fit enough for a full game, we may not have conceded one or two of those three goals. O’Nien has put in some great shifts to help the team and maybe it was the fact Watkins was just too good, but I’m pleased that Ballard is back as we’ll need a better defensive showing than that for the remaining fifteen points on offer.

The top six is left wanting…for now

With Everton losing the Merseyside derby, we could’ve gone sixth if Habib Diarra had squared the ball or dinked it a foot higher. The upside is that we still have five games in which to do that, and with a tighter defence and the lads playing as well as they did at times, we have a great chance of nicking a top eight berth. Yesterday was a wrench but I think we have to focus on the positives and use those to kick on during the remaining games. Well done, lads. Despite the loss and some of the errors, you still made me proud that my team almost pulled that off.