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.
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