View: Aouchiche deserves more minutes for Sunderland after 72% showing v Stoke
Adil Aouchiche was the standout performer for Sunderland in an otherwise average display against Stoke City and he deserves more minutes in the first team.
The Black Cats saw their five-game unbeaten run come to an end with Stoke securing a 1-0 home victory courtesy of a last-minute Tom Cannon strike on Sunday (29 December).
In the absence of several attacking players, Aouchiche was handed a starting role and largely thrived just as he did in a cameo appearance against Bristol City on 10 December.
There were frustrations in his performance but the majority of the signs were positive and he should be awarded more minutes for Sunderland going forward.
Adil Aouchiche tried to make things happen for Sunderland
Attacking woes have haunted Sunderland this season, with creativity often lacklustre, and recent performances from Eliezer Mayenda have seen those goals dry up even more.
Aouchiche looked to make things happen for the Wearsiders against Stoke but to little avail, although his inclusion needs to be considered more.
According to FotMob, Aouchiche recorded a 72 per cent pass accuracy which, while it doesn’t scream out ability, many of his attempted passes were intricate and saw the Frenchman take a risk which nearly paid off on a few occasions.
With four chances created, Aouchiche registered an xA (expected assists) of 0.34 while recording an xG (expected goals) of 0.21 although that was converted to an xGOT of 0.37, showcasing how well Stoke’s Viktor Johansson did to maintain his clean sheet.
The 22-year-old had five shots in the game, three of which hit the target with another being blocked, and he was always looking to create something in the final third.
His crossing stats provide optimism and pessimism at the same time. Having attempted 18 crosses, his desire to get a ball into the area was clear but just a 22 per cent accuracy suggests some were poor, while other failed attempts can be blamed on the lack of movement from those in the box.
There are plenty of positives to take from his appearance against the Potters and Regis Le Bris may be starting to regret his decision to not utilise him more often.
If the Black Cats are to achieve promotion, it is going to be a whole team effort and Aouchiche has more than enough ability to contribute to that.
In other Sunderland news, transfer tension has emerged ahead of the January window.
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