Regis Le Bris must end bizarre Sunderland experiment after what happened in Fulham defeat
Sunderland are capable of far more than they showcased away to Fulham on Saturday.
Sunderland suffered their third defeat of the season against Fulham, with Raul Jimenez scoring the winner after getting on the end of a cross into the box.
It was a deserved defeat, all things considered, with the Black Cats simply not at the races from start to finish.
However, their performance all stemmed from a decision made by Regis Le Bris pre-game, and not for the first time.
Sunderland must stop utilising a back five
The Black Cats have had some success this season when they have played with a back five.
Most notably, Sunderland’s 2-1 win away to Chelsea, followed by their 2-2 draw at home to Arsenal.
However, it has also exposed how limited they are in games when it comes to posing a threat, and that was on full show against Fulham, just as it was against Everton a few weeks ago.
The Wearsiders are more than capable of matching a side like Fulham with the quality they have, but the way they set up at Craven Cottage just invited pressure and very rarely did they have any kind of out-ball to relieve that pressure.
Sunderland managed just four shots, and only two on target throughout the game, with a combined xG of 0.17.
In comparison, Fulham had 24 shots, with an xG of 2.08.
Using a back five is more than acceptable in games where you are the clear underdog, but it seems very odd to utilise it in games where you can match your opponent all over the pitch.
More misery could be piled on Sunderland after Fulham defeat
To have your four-game unbeaten run come to an end in that manner is frustrating enough, but Sunderland could also receive a punishment from the Premier League for an incident after the game.
For reasons unknown, both sets of players and coaches came together on the pitch, with one member of the Black Cats’ coaching staff receiving a caution.
Keith Hackett told Mackem News: “There needs to be a thorough investigation and fines and suspensions if appropriate,” with both clubs set to submit a report.
Overall, it was a day to forget for the Black Cats, whose next away fixture is against Liverpool, before another trip to Man City.
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