How did the players fare in Sunderland's 1-0 win over Southend United?


SUNDERLAND (4-2-3-1):

6 J McLaughlin: Will not have many easier afternoons, although he was forced to deal with some dangerous late crosses

7 C McLaughlin: Got forward effectively down the right-hand side, but faces a suspension after picking up his fifth booking of the season

7 Willis: Is growing into a real leader at the heart of the back four – kept Hopper extremely quiet all afternoon

7 Lynch: Another solid display from the summer signing, who has already proved an astute acquisition

8 HUME: Delivered one of his best performances in a Sunderland shirt as he poured forward down the left

6 Power: Kept things neat and tidy at the heart of midfield, but wasn’t really able to provide much of an attacking threat

7 Dobson: Was the key player in the central third, dictating play with some neat passes and shutting down Southend attacks

8 O’Nien: Is really growing into his attacking-midfield role, and claimed his third goal of the season with a clinical diving header

6 Maguire: Saw plenty of the ball, but was infuriatingly wasteful on occasion, especially in the first half

6 McGeady: Tested Bishop with a couple of decent long-range strikes, but his crossing radar was awry for much of the game

5 Grigg: Failed to find the target with a couple of headed chances and continues to look chronically short of confidence


Subs:

6 Watmore (for Maguire, 62): Added some pace and drive and threatened to break beyond the Southend defence on a couple of occasions

McNulty (for Grigg, 78)

Leadbitter (for McGeady, 85)

(not used): Patterson (gk), Flanagan, McGeouch, Kimpioka.


SOUTHEND (3-4-2-1):

Bishop 6; Shaughnessy 5, Dieng 5, LENNON 6; Bwomono 6, Milligan 6 (Hyam 78), Hutchinson 5, Ralph 5; Cox 6, Goodship 5 (Acquah 63, 4); Hopper 4 (Rush 78).

Subs (not used): Oxley (gk), Ndukwu, Demetriou, Taylor.


Man Of The Match: DENVER HUME – Sunderland’s young full-back has recovered from a shaky start to the season to successfully re-establish himself in the starting team.