At the beginning of 2022, Sunderland were automatic promotion candidates. However, as the new year progressed, the Black Cats saw their results and performances go from bad to worse. Lee Johnson was sacked following a humiliating 6-0 defeat at the hands of Bolton Wanderers and goals being conceded with ease in other games, too. Sunderland’s defence was devoid of confidence and it showed. Something needed to change.
In February, Alex Neil was appointed, and results and performances have steadily improved; however, despite their previously leaky defence now more solid, Neil’s men are struggling to convert the many chances created into goals, especially away from home.
New Head Coach Alex Neil Has Made Sunderland’s Defence Solid but Has Work to Do at Other End of the Field
Alex Neil Has Made Sunderland’s Defence Solid
Alex Neil’s first mission as Sunderland’s head coach was to make Sunderland’s defence more solid. Thorben Hoffmann, on loan from Bayern Munich, lost his place to Anthony Patterson in goal due to illness. The academy product has played every minute since Neil arrived and appears to be growing in confidence with each passing game. With four clean sheets in his last five, it would be a surprise if Patterson lost his place.
On loan teenager, Callum Doyle has also been taken out of the firing line. The central defender from Manchester City has impressed for much of the season but had begun to struggle due to the number of games he had been asked to play at such a young age.
Neil has made his team harder to play against, gave them a confidence boost and toughened them up mentally. Four clean sheets in the last five games have now given Neil and his team a platform to build on as they look to be amongst the playoff positions come the end of the season.
Chances Created Not Being Taken
The Black Cats have dropped from automatic promotion favourites to playoff hopefuls this year. The defence was a major concern for both Alex Neil and the fans; however, now that the defence is more solid, Sunderland have found goals harder to come by.
Against Charlton Athletic and Lincoln City, the Black Cats created enough clear cut chances to have won each game comfortably but came away with just a point following 0-0 draws. A home victory over bottom of the table Crewe Alexandra saw Sunderland have just one attempt on target before the deadlock was finally broken in the 84th minute.
The Black Cats are now outside of the playoff positions with just seven games left to play.
Alex Neil and the fans will be encouraged by the recent form and fitness of January signings Patrick Roberts and Jack Clarke. Both arrived without playing much football this season and it showed during their first weeks at the club. With game time and training, both attackers are now beginning to show the form that they are capable of. With top scorer Ross Stewart returning from his first call up to the Scotland squad unscathed and Nathan Broadhead returning from injury, Sunderland should have enough attacking threat, barring injuries, to create and score the goals they need.
Jermain Defoe’s Retirement Has Caused Concern
A concern that fans could have is that if injuries do occur, Alex Neil could find himself with a major problem. Premier League and Sunderland legend Jermain Defoe was brought back to the club in the January transfer window to ease the pressure on Ross Stewart. However, his return did not work out as everyone had hoped for.
The former England striker played seven times on his return to the North East but failed to score. Last week, the 39-year-old decided that it was time to retire. The news came as a shock to both the club and their fans who had both believed that the striker would be available for the remainder of the season.
All that can be crossed will be done so by Sunderland’s long-suffering fans that their team can avoid injuries and score the goals that will give them a chance at promotion via the playoffs.
Alex Neil’s Sunderland Team Are 90 Per Cent There
Speaking after the 0-0 draw at Lincoln City, where Sunderland created more than enough clear-cut opportunities to win comfortably, head coach spoke of the work done so far and also the frustration of those areas where work is needed.
He said: “If you’d have given me a list of things that we needed to work through, I think we’re 90 per cent of the way there.
“It’s those final bits, how much danger can we cause in the opposition box and today we created more than enough to win.
“We need to find that little bit that takes it from being a good performance to a good victory, because ultimately that’s what matters at his moment in time.
“The last two performances have been criticised and we’ve scored five goals, our last two away performances have been very good and we’ve scored no goals. That’s really frustrating for me. The game plan and the strategy worked, we just couldn’t finish the chances.”
International Break Has Given Alex Neil Time to Work With Players
Since arriving at the club in February, the head coach has had little time to work with his players on the training pitch due to the hectic League One schedule. However, with last Saturday’s game against leaders Rotherham United being postponed due to international call ups for both clubs, Neil has had a chance to work with the majority of his squad for a prolonged length of time.
However, Neil has played down how productive the international break has been. Despite having a lot of his squad to work with, several players have been away with their respective countries. He told the Sunderland Echo: “I think the difficulty we’ve got is I think everyone thinks we have ten days to prepare for the next game.
“The problem we’ve got at the moment is that we have four or five internationals that have all been away that have been regular starters for us. The likes of Ross Stewart, Corry Evans, Bailey Wright, Callum Doyle, all them lads haven’t been here.
“To get any work done really in terms of preparation for the game is extremely difficult because them lads haven’t been here. It’s not as productive as what I think some people think.”
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