So the year ends on a low as we suffer a defeat to an average, but well structured Preston team. It has been a frustrating season to say the least and the inconsistencies of our season are mirrored by certain individual’s performances. We have again lost ground on the play off spots and are positioned in the league where we deserve to be, mid-table.
Keane once again fiddled around with the squad, and although it is a hectic period over the Christmas period, some of his choices for selection do tend to beggar belief. With Nyron starting left back the defence looked shaky all afternoon and this was highlighted more when Caldwell was replaced by Nyatanga, who simply looked shocking. His overall defensive play was poor, and you always get the people saying “well he is a centre back, give him a break” etc….. but any defender should know how to pass a ball and give the goalkeeper something to trust in front of him, Lewin simply isn’t that player.
Kavanagh was on the bench after being declared fit on SSN, he was rested maybe for the Leicester game in a few days time. Making his debut in the new series of “Lost” was Dwight Yorke and the title of this programme was exactly what he was today, LOST. His commitment and effort has to be questioned, if only his tackling was as good as his vision we may have seen a good performance, but he simply does not look bothered in a red and white top.
Preston who fielded a rather defensive line up as predicted by most, had the first opening chance with the impressive Nugent coming in from the right to fire just over the bar. Nugent’s pace against the tank, that is Varga, was always going to be a worry and does show to have potential when on the ball. This is something that Sunderland is crying out for, a goal scorer, and with Stokes bagging a 1st half hat-trick at Falkirk, maybe Keane should go for this young talent. Anything has to be better than relying on Chris Brown as a last ditch attempt to get a goal near the end of games.
Sunderland’s best spell of the game, football wise was in the opening quarter of an hour with Nyron making a few good runs down the left but kept the theme going of no end product. The amount of times that Sunderland waste possession and corners due to poor deliveries is beginning to get worrying, we get corners but they never trouble any of the opposition we face lately, why?
Sunderland overall created the best chances in the half with a neat turn from Connelly and low shot saved by Nash. Another chance created by Connelly seen him beat the defenders to pull the ball back for Yorke, who if he put a little or any effort in could maybe have slotted it home before the tackle came in to clear. We looked good going forward at times but the inevitable shaky defence was shown as Nugent grabbed a goal before half time. The one through ball beat the static defence as Ward came rushing out, Ormerod left an open goal tap in for the Premiership target to pounce on.
The first half showed no true quality or depth in the starting eleven, and the major signing that Keane has to focus on in the next month, is pace, and plenty of it please!
The second half saw Elliott, who was a surprise omission, comes on for the useless Yorke. This injected a bit of pace down the flanks and chance after chance went begging as Wallace had a snapshot over the bar and Connelly heading just wide from a cross. The second half was all Sunderland, with the occasional Preston counter which never proved costly. The annoying thing about this game is what has been brewing over the last few games, chances not being turned into goals. The sooner we get an out and out striker the more chance we have of climbing the league and maintaining a good league spot.
When “Porn-Star” Brown came on for the again quiet Wallace it turned into desperate football at times, with neither Varga or Nyatanga being able to keep the ball on the ground and hoofing pointless balls to Connelly and creating little.
The best chance of the second half fell to Brown who tried to do too much as he acrobatically smashed over the bar. But the story of the game was how much possession we created but never managed to get the killer cross or pass into the strikers.
Thankfully January is around the corner and we will see more players and more speed invested into the squad, because sadly to say at the moment, this team will not reach the next level of this league unless we keep a winning team and formation and get players in their preferred positions.
Clancey_Wiggum aka Gary Johnson
MOM – Liam Miller – wanted the ball and used it much better than any other player.