Shay Given names Sunderland player he absolutely loves on Match of the Day – ‘immense’
Shay Given’s connection to Newcastle United means there is no love lost between him and a passionate Sunderland fanbase.
But even the former Magpies goalkeeper was at pains to praise Sunderland after their goaless draw with Brighton at the Amex Stadium on Saturday.
Just a week on from Sunderland triumphing in the Wear-Tyne derby over Newcastle, the Black Cats earned a fine point to sit sixth in the Premier League, though they could still drop below Manchester United before Christmas Day.
The game was not without controversy, and the Premier League released a statement after Dan Ballard only received a yellow card for a contentious challenge on Charalampos Kostoulas.
Paul Merson was also unimpressed with the quality on display in Sunderland’s draw, but ultimately it was a hard-earned point at a tough place to pick up points.
Shay Given wowed by Sunderland defending in Brighton draw
Brighton have only been beaten once in the Premier League at home this season, and Sunderland had to be at their best defensively.
Shay Given held particular praise for the way Ballard and Omar Alderete marshalled the defence at the Amex, with the former triumphing in 11 duels and making six clearances according to FotMob.
Speaking on Match of the Day, Given praised both Black Cats defenders, but then went on to state how highly he rates Ballard in particular.
“I would go as far as to say it’s a great point actually. Brighton’s a tough place to go,” he said.
“We highlighted these two at the back, I think they were brilliant, you need a strong defensive unit away from home, and Ballard and Alderete were immense. Everything Brighton threw at them they were dealing with, you see Ballard scanning and heading everything away.
“I think these two have played the last five games together, and they’re building up a really strong understanding. You see here Ballard’s back defending on the line helping the keeper if it comes back in again, and they’re readjusting, they’re never too far apart, you see the way the way we’ve circled them together, never more than five or six yards apart, organising and heading.
“And I love Dan Ballard, the way he attacks and heads everything, he’d head your Granny he really would, he’s absolutely brilliant in that position.
“As a goalkeeper you’ve got a defender saying I want to head things, clear things, block things, away from home in the Premier League, that’s invaluable and up to sixth in the Premier League is just a phenomenal season.”
- Read more: Sunderland may yet be contacted by governing body over a decision they made against Brighton.
What’s the most points a relegated Premier League team had at Christmas?
Even those supporters whose glasses are half full and the most pessimistic of fans will have absolutely zero thoughts of relegation, and indeed the focus will be fully on trying to entrench a place in the European places after Christmas.
But, just to emphasise how well Sunderland are doing, there are a couple of statistics that really hammer home how hugely impressive the Black Cats’ return to the top flight has been.
According to BBC Sport, Norwich were the highest-placed team at Christmas to be relegated, having dropped down in the 1994-95 season despite sitting seventh with 30 points and 11 above the drop by the time Santa finished his delivery of presents.
- Norwich City went down in the 1994-95 season despite having 30 points at Christmas
- Blackpool had the most points by December 25th only to be relegated in the 38-game era
- Sunderland already have 27 points from 17 games and realistically are not thinking about the drop
That was in a 42-game season. When it comes to the 38-game era, Blackpool were 10th on Christmas Day in the 2010-11 campaign with 22 points, only to finish 19th with 39.
Sunderland sit sixth with 27 points in what has been an outstanding return to the Premier League, and there is little thought of the bottom three at the Stadium of Light, which is a credit to the work of Regis Le Bris and his squad.
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