How did the players fare in Sunderland’s 1-0 defeat at Huddersfield?
HUDDERSFIELD (4-2-3-1):
Nicholls 7; PEARSON 8, Lees 7, Balker 7 (Nakayama 60, 5), Spencer 7 (Jackson 80); Kasumu 6, Matos 6 (Hogg 74); Thomas 7, Wiles 6 (Burgzorg 80), Rudoni 8; Koroma 7 (Ward 74).
Subs (not used): Maxwell (gk), Radulovic, Diarra, Jones.
SUNDERLAND (4-1-4-1):
4 Patterson: Should have done better with Huddersfield’s winner, when he clawed the ball into Pearson’s path
6 Hume: Put in a decent defensive shirt, and almost claimed a dramatic equaliser in the dying seconds
6 O’NIEN: Threw himself into challenges all night and prevented a goal with a superb sliding tackle in the first half
5 Ballard: Didn’t shy away from the physical challenge, but didn’t always use the ball especially effectively
4 Hjelde: Gave the ball away on a number of occasions when he had it under pressure, and failed to get the better of the industrious Rudoni
5 Neil: Played as the deepest-lying midfielder, but was never really able to get a proper grip of the central area
4 Bellingham: Didn’t look especially comfortable playing on the right in the first half, but wasn’t much better after the break
4 Ba: Was ineffective while playing in a central role in the first half, and didn’t really improve after he was moved to the right after the interval
4 Ekwah: Never really stamped his authority on the central-midfield area and was brushed aside too easily at times
5 Clarke: Tried his best, but was successfully shackled by Pearson, with Rudoni also doubling up on him
5 Rusyn: Showed willing as he ran the channels, but not for the first time, never really looked like testing the opposition goalkeeper
Subs:
6 Roberts (for Ba, 60): Showed flashes down the right before he was forced off with a hamstring injury
5 Pembele (for Hjelde, 60): Tried to make a difference, but might have been sent off for a reckless challenge that resulted in a booking
Mundle (for Rusyn, 72)
Burstow (for Neil, 80)
(not used): Bishop (gk), Seelt, Rigg, Aouchiche, Hemir.
Man Of The Match: MATTY PEARSON – Scored Huddersfield’s winner and did superbly to keep Clarke uncharacteristically quiet.
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