Sunderland vs Middlesbrough: A Tactical Analysis

As Sunderland prepares to face Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light, new manager Regis Le Bris‘s tactics are under scrutiny following their recent defeat. The loss to Plymouth Argyle, managed by former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney, has prompted Middlesbrough’s manager Michael Carrick to reach out to Rooney for insights. Rooney secured a notable victory by overturning a 1-0 half-time deficit to win 3-2, marking Sunderland’s first defeat under Le Bris in the Championship.

Ben Hardie, a writer for Sunderland’s fanzine ‘A Love Supreme‘, provides an analysis of Sunderland’s performance. Hardie mentioned to Teesside Live, “The first half against Plymouth, we certainly weren’t at our best but probably shaded it over Argyle and just about deserved to go into half-time 1-0 up.” He emphasized the lack of midfield control in the second half, attributing it to an off day for Sunderland.

The absence of Alan Browne, who was sidelined due to injury, left a noticeable gap in Sunderland’s midfield. Hardie added, “Alan Browne played 90 minutes for the Republic of Ireland on the Tuesday night, which meant he came out of Sunderland’s starting XI against Argyle. We missed his presence in midfield.” Defensive errors, particularly by Dan Ballard, who scored an own goal and conceded a penalty, have also been criticized, potentially resulting from fatigue following international duty.

Despite the setback, Sunderland fans are optimistic about their team’s prospects under Le Bris, who guided Sunderland to four consecutive victories at the season’s start. Le Bris has introduced high-pressing football, which has been well-received by supporters. Hardie remarked, “We couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season. Regis Le Bris has gotten us playing some high-pressing, aggressive football which suits our fanbase perfectly.”

As Middlesbrough prepares to exploit Sunderland’s vulnerabilities, particularly in the midfield, Carrick’s team aims to learn from Plymouth’s success. This match becomes critical for both teams, with Sunderland seeking to re-establish momentum and Middlesbrough aiming to capitalize on any perceived weaknesses.