Rotating to ensure key players remain fresh is wise and understandable but they were missed at Norwich City, where the Black Cats notched a third successive clean sheet to pick up a point that guarantees a top six finish. But not until their rested stars were introduced late on did it look like they could pick up all three.
With Jobe Bellingham absent – a precaution rather than anything to worry about – and Patrick Roberts and Wilson Isidor both dropping to the bench, Milan Aleksic and Tommy Watson supported Eliezer Mayenda in a new-look forward line. But neither Aleksic or Watson made a case to stay in the side.
And Sunderland’s forwards didn’t really have a kick before Le Bris called on his big guns at the midway stage of the second half, Isidor and Roberts introduced alongside the returning Enzo Le Fee. What a boost to have the Frenchman back, though he may well end up playing on the left flank again rather than in a central role because of the absence of Romaine Mundle, whose pace and direct running was a miss on Tuesday night.
The substitutes sparked a late improvement but couldn’t inspire a winner.
This was Watson’s first start since his summer move to Brighton was confirmed but it was a frustrating and difficult night for the winger, Norwich the better side in the first half and Sunderland only really coming to life in the final third in the final stages. Aleksic is still raw and, making just his second Championship start, doesn’t yet look ready to make a first team impact.
What an impact Chris Mepham has made in defence this season, though. The Wales international was immense again, making two goal-saving blocks.
While Sunderland were way short of their best at Carrow Road, they’ve rediscovered their handy knack of being able to keep sides out. They haven’t lost or conceded a goal since last month’s international stoppage, and seven points from nine is a fine return from a testing trio of games. And Sunderland are now certain of a top six finish. To have that place secured with five games still to play shows just how impressive a season this has been for the Black Cats. Now, can they finish the job?
Norwich have been riddled by inconsistency and their defeat at bottom club Plymouth at the weekend left the Canaries facing up to the reality of another season in the second tier. They didn’t, however, start like a side that had given up on a top six finish, despite the seven point gap at the start of the night.
Sunderland, on the other hand, were sluggish and sloppy in the early stages, twice relieved to see good home opportunities spurned. Anis Ben Slimane hit the outside of the post with a close-range header before Dan Neil was dispossessed on the edge of his own area but the finish from the Championship’s top scorer Borja Sainz was straight at Anthony Patterson.
Josh Sargent only trails Sainz by three goals this season but after a smart swivel on the edge of the box, he too fired straight at Patterson. Sunderland’s keeper was busy, Norwich’s was not – the Black Cats touched the ball just once in the home penalty area in the opening half an hour and come half-time hadn’t managed a shot on goal.
Sunderland were no more effective going forward in the opening quarter of an hour of the second half; Gunn still a spectator. Patterson did have to pick the ball out of the net but only after referee Jeremy Simpson had spotted Slimane’s handball and disallowed the goal. That was the cue for Le Bris to send out Isidor, Roberts and Le Fee to warm up.
But before the trio were introduced, Sunderland created their first chance of the evening, Watson’s low cross landing at the feet of Mayenda who clearly wasn’t expecting it and whose instinctive swipe was blocked and cleared. Mayenda then dug out a cross which Aleksic did well to keep alive but Norwich bundled clear.
The Black Cats looked the more likely side to win it late on but couldn’t force a breakthrough.
