(Credit: Imago)
(Credit: Imago)
Match

Sunderland have underrated Premier League hero, and it's not Trai Hume

Kyrenia Shipillis
Kyrenia Shipillis

Kyrenia will graduate with a Master's in Sports Journalism from St Mary's University, Twickenham in 2025. She spent several months working for the Non-League Paper and has written for the Sports Gazette. She has also produced written content for Connectsport.

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Robin Roefs has recorded the highest save percentage in the Premier League this season as he continues to keep Sunderland's dream alive.

Sunderland's 2-2 draw to Arsenal on Saturday has them sitting fourth in the Premier League heading into the final international break of the year.

Dan Ballard was highly praised for his performance against Arsenal after netting their first and creating their second goal to rescue a much-deserved point.

But while Ballard was rippling nets at one end, Roefs was working hard to minimise the damage at the other, just as he has done consistently.

Dan Ballard
Ballard impressed against Arsenal (Credit: Imago)

Sunderland's defensive foundations have cracks

Sunderland have conceded 10 goals in the Premier League this season. Only Arsenal, Manchester City and Crystal Palace have let in fewer.

The Black Cats have also kept the sixth-most clean sheets in the league, but a deeper delve into their defensive statistics highlights their shaky foundations.

  • Sunderland have conceded 13.4 expected goals this season
  • The Black Cats have made seven errors leading to a shot
  • Sunderland have made two errors leading to a goal

Conceding just 10 goals from 13.4 expected goals conceded is a stat that speaks for itself.

Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris looks to his right ahead of a game.
Sunderland's defensive structure still needs work (Credit: Imago)

To put this into perspective, Nottingham Forest have conceded 16.9 expected goals and 20 goals, while West Ham have conceded 16.8 expected goals and 23 goals.

Both are fighting relegation this season.

Robin Roefs Sunderland's underrated hero

While Trai Hume's consistent performances for Sunderland have gone under the radar, Roefs has been the Black Cat's true hero.

Roefs has made 39 saves in the Premier League at a rate of 3.5 per match. This is the second-highest number of saves in the league behind Burnley and Martin Dubravka.

  • He has made 26 saves from inside the box
  • Roefs has made 12 saves from outside the box

Meanwhile, the 22-year-old has recorded a save percentage of 79.6 per cent, the highest in the league this season. He has also prevented 2.05 goals, which is the third most.

Robin Roefs save percentage stat
Roefs save percentage stat

Sunderland have been one of the best-performing teams in the Premier League this season, but Roefs has silently made the difference.

Therefore, Sunderland's Premier League hopes may be alive and well, but their keeper is the real hero who is keeping that dream going.

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Robin Roefs
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