Luke O’Nien howler, Brian Brobbey the hero – Sunderland player ratings vs Newcastle
Brian Brobbey’s late winner for Sunderland stretched their unbeaten Premier League run against Newcastle United to 11 matches after a dramatic comeback 2-1 victory at St James’ Park.
The hosts wanted a fast start after their 7-2 drubbing by Barcelona in the Champions League in midweek, and they got it when a Luke O’Nien mistake was pounced upon by Nick Woltemade, and Anthony Gordon did the rest.
Sunderland improved as the game wore on and were level when Chemsdine Talbi fired in after Newcastle failed to clear a corner in the 57th minute as the visitors rattled their great rivals.
At the other end, Malick Thiaw’s header was ruled out as Jacob Murphy was blocking Melker Ellborg.
Regis Le Bris‘ team won the reverse fixture 1-0 at the Stadium of Light, and after Brobbey‘s late winner, Mackems News has rated Sunderland’s players after doing the league double over Newcastle.
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Luke O’Nien undone by horror start
Sunderland hero O’Nien has had a testing season for the club. Red cards, a player of the match award on his first Premier League start against Leeds United, and costly mistakes.
O’Nien is a club icon, but question marks have been raised over whether or not he is good enough at this level; he won’t care right now.
| Luke O’Nien vs Newcastle | |
| Ground duels won | 1/3 |
| Aerial duels won | 1/4 |
| Errors leading to a goal | One |
| Defensive contributions | Five |
Many Mackems fans will not have forgotten his near-calamitous own goal in the FA Cup fifth round loss to Port Vale, and against Newcastle, he made a defensive howler.
On his second Premier League start, he took a short pass from goalkeeper Melker Ellborg, in a pre-planned move, but his hurried pass was intercepted and seconds later it was 1-0 to Newcastle.
O’Nien only started because centre-back Dan Ballard was absent. And with displays like this, he won’t be getting many more starting nods again.
Brian Brobbey outmuscles Newcastle
There aren’t many strikers who are going to win an arm wrestle with Newcastle’s towering defenders of Dan Burn, Sven Botman, and Thiaw, but on Sunday, Brobbey did just that.
He repeatedly held off Newcastle’s giants, showing terrific hold up play, while also bringing others into the game.
After missing a couple of matches due to a groin injury, the former Ajax man wasn’t at his best in a 1-0 loss to Brighton.
But against the Toon, Brobbey more than held his own as he led Sunderland’s line with bristling physicality. And in the 90th minute, he scored his sixth goal of the season to silence the home crowd at the second opportunity.
As ex-Arsenal striker Alan Smith said on Sky Sports commentary, “He can handle himself Brobbey, can’t he? He can give as good as he gets.”
What a day for him as Sunderland leapfrogged Newcastle in the table.
Sunderland player ratings vs Newcastle
Melker Ellborg – 6
Lutsharel Geertruida – 7
Luke O’Nien – 4
Omar Alderete – 7
Trai Hume – 6
Granit Xhaka – 6
Chris Rigg – 6
Habib Diarra – 5
Noah Sadiki – 6
Chemsdine Talbi – 7
Brian Brobbey – 8
Substitutions:
Enzo Le Fee – 7
Reinildo Mandava – 5
Eliezer Mayenda – 5
For even more Sunderland news and opinions, head over to Football Insider.