On a day when Mick McCarthy stated that he’d be happy with marginal victories for the rest of the season, he’s bound to be over moon with today’s result. However, all it took was a decidedly average and indecisive performance to effectively stroll past, what was, a very poor Brighton side. Whilst Sunderland dominated possession throughout they once again lacked that killer touch that seems to have deserted them in recent weeks.
After Monday’s decent performance against Rotherham, McCarthy named a similar side with only two changes being made. Although suffering from the flu, Liam Lawrence replaced Monday night’s match-winner, Whitehead, whilst Danny Collins made his debut in place of the injured George McCartney.
The changes on each wing, however, didn’t seem to effect the team’s performance as they crafted several chances within the first quarter of an hour. Stewart failed to convert after a goalmouth scramble before both Arca and Elliott missed half-chances. Setting somewhat of a precedence for the rest of the game, Sunderland also had a handful of small penalty appeals turned down, but rightly so. During this spell of pressure it became clear that Brighton had only one objective and that was to defend. Although this is frustrating to watch, for the whole of the first half, this seemed to pay off. The Lads became agitated and nervous, failing to create a clear-cut chance. They rarely threatened and although Whitley was superb in winning the ball, the whole of the midfield lacked creativity and the full-backs failed to get far enough up to pitch to make any useful overlapping runs. Something that should have been and was rectified during the half time break.
Unlike at the start of the first half, Sunderland failed to excite. Although they managed a few long-range efforts from Whitley and Lawrence, it was beginning to seem that Sunderland just weren’t going to score. A myth that was dispelled in the 64th minute as Arca, immense throughout, pounced onto a rebounded Bridges strike, after Lawrence’s effort had earlier been saved. It was fitting that the substitute, Bridges was involved in the opener as it was his introduction, replacing the ineffective Stewart, that brought a new lease of life to the previously lacklustre Sunderland side. He was again involved in the second goal as he sprayed an excellent pass out to the feet of Lawrence who, when trying to beat an Albion defender, was brought down inside the box, this time it was a clear penalty. He picked himself up, picked the ball up and struck the ball superbly into the bottom corner past the keeper’s outstretched left hand. From then on, the outcome was a foregone conclusion and the Seagulls knew this. Their heads, and performance levels dropped allowing Sunderland to effortlessly pick up their eighth win of the season, moving them into fifth place, only two points behind second. The promotion bandwagon is picking up speed and, without playing superbly, we are now well in with a chance.
Man of the Match: Julio Arca, simply sublime
Matthew Woolston