7 Patterson: Safe hands throughout. Dealt well with shots and crosses.
6 Hume: Did a decent enough job on Norwich dangerman Sainz, though wasn’t able to get forward as much as he’d have liked.
8 Mepham: Outstanding again. Two crucial goal-saving blocks. Consistently excellent.
7 O’Nien: Managed the game well after early yellow card. Limited Norwich in the second half.
6 Hjelde: Nervous start but grew into it. Replaced midway through the second half.
5 Neil: Dispossessed in build-up to good early Norwich chance. Didn’t reach his usual high standards and struggled to get a grip of the game in the first half.
5 Rigg: Plenty of energy and some nice touches but didn’t influence the game as he’d hope.
6 Browne: The most advanced of Sunderland’s midfield trio. Found it difficult to get into the game. Covered at right-back after changes.
5 Aleksic: Never got into it and looked too lightweight at times. Unsurprisingly replaced when Le Bris turned to his bench.
5 Watson: Difficult night for the winger, with Sunderland spending the majority of the first half defending. One or two darting runs but created nothing of note.
6 Mayenda: Was a spectator in the first half, though the ball didn’t stick when it went forward. Improved in last half hour after the changes and went closest to Sunderland goal.
Substitutes:
6 Roberts (for Aleksic, 68): One or two bright moments from the bench.
7 Le Fee (for Hjelde, 68): Helped inspire Sunderland to bright finish. Suich a boost to have him back.
6 Isidor (for Watson, 68): Direct running made a difference.
Jones (for Rigg, 82): N/A
Subs not used: Moore, Anderson, Lavery, Bainbridge, Middlemas
NORWICH: Gunn 6; Fisher 7 (Stacey, 85), Duffy 7, Cordoba 7, McLean (C) 7; Wright 6 (Sorensen, 85), Nunez 7 (McConville, 93), Slimane 6 (Forsum, 76); Schwartau 6 (Marcodes, 46), Sainz 6, Sargent 6
SUBS: Long (GK), Stacey, Gibbs, Djedje, Mundle-Smith.
Man of the Match: Mepham. Another performance that showed why the Bournemouth loanee should be a frontrunner for Sunderland’s Player of the Season award.
