How did the players fare in Sunderland's home defeat to MK Dons?
SUNDERLAND (3-5-2):
6 Matthews: Didn’t have a chance with either of the MK Dons goals, and made a fine late save from Fraser to prevent things getting even worse
4 Willis: Found himself repeatedly pulled out of position to cover Gooch’s forward runs – is now set to have an injection on his troublesome knee
4 Wright: Not one of the centre-halves best days as he struggled to keep tabs on the intelligent runs of Middlesbrough loanee Walker
5 O’Nien: Returned to the back three in the absence of Flanagan and McLaughlin and made a reasonably decent fist of dealing with the positional change
6 Gooch: Was asked to press high up the field and carried out his instructions as required, even though it left his side somewhat out of shape
4 Power: Opened the scoring with a deflected strike, but gave away the penalty with a rash challenge and opted to pass sideways far too often
4 Leadbitter: Struggled to deal with the pace and energy of MK Dons’ counter-attacking and couldn’t do anything productive when he had the ball
4 Scowen: Was anonymous as an attacking presence and needs to play much higher up the field if he is in a midfield with Power and Leadbitter
7 HUME: The one real bright spot for the Black Cats, with his incisive runs down the left causing problems all afternoon
2 Grigg: His calamitous Sunderland career hit a new low with the second-half incident that saw him fail to convert Gooch’s cross from one yard out
4 Wyke: A lot of aimless balls were tossed in his direction, but he failed to get on top of MK Dons’ centre-halves
Subs:
4 Maguire (for Power, 67): Was given a roving attacking-midfield role after he came on, but never really looked like changing the course of the game
Graham (for Grigg, 72)
Diamond (for Willis, 86)
(not used): Burge (gk), Sanderson, Dobson, O’Brien.
MK DONS (3-5-2):
FISHER 8; O’Hora 7, Keogh 7, Lewington 7; Fraser 8, Gladwin 7 (Cargill 76), Kasumu 6, Thompson 6 (Sorensen 81), Sorinola 6; Walker 7 (Morris 63, 6), Jerome 7.
Subs (not used): Nicholls (gk), Davies, Freeman, Johnson.
Man Of The Match: ANDREW FISHER – The MK Dons goalkeeper commanded his area when required, and produced two excellent late saves to ensure his side ended their long wait for a League One away win.
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