How did the players perform in Sunderland's 1-0 defeat to Blackpool?


SUNDERLAND (4-2-3-1):

6 Burge: Made a decent save from Yates at the end of the first half – had absolutely no chance with Kaikai’s goal

6 Power: Played in about three different positions as Johnson constantly chopped and changed his formation

6 Wright: Did reasonably well for most of the night – dealt with Blackpool’s balls into the box from the flank

6 O’Nien: Kept Yates quiet for most of the night, although opponents are starting to target him as a possible weak link

5 Hume: Tried to keep pushing forward, but his delivery from the flank was relatively poor for most of the night

6 Leadbitter: Sat in his usual position in front of the back four and made a decent enough job of preventing Blackpool from breaking

4 Scowen: Covered plenty of ground, but didn’t pass the ball forward enough and nearly always opted for the safest option

4 Gooch: Showed plenty of energy, but his final ball let him down on a number of occasions and he lacked composure

5 O’Brien: Didn’t really offer a threat in the final third and was taken off just after the hour mark

5 McGeady: Came close with a shot that deflected over the crossbar, but didn’t have his most effective of nights

6 WYKE: Didn’t do an awful lot wrong – without Maxwell’s fine saves, he could easily have claimed a couple of goals


Subs:

5 Stewart (for O’Brien, 61): Set up Wyke with a header across goal but hasn’t really got going as a Sunderland player yet

4 Winchester (for Scowen, 70): Was unable to change the course of the game during his time on the field

4 Jones (for Leadbitter, 70): Didn’t have an opportunity to make a difference in the closing stages

(not used): Matthews (gk), McFadzean, Diamond, Maguire.


BLACKPOOL (5-3-2):

MAXWELL 9; Turton 6, Ballard 7, Thorniley 7, Husband 6, Garbutt 6; Dougall 6, Robson 6, Ward 5; Kaikai 6 (Mitchell 70, 5), Yates 6.

Subs (not used): Moore (gk), Gabriel, Ekpiteta, Stewart, Simms, Holmes.


Man Of The Match: CHRIS MAXWELL – The Blackpool made some excellent second-half saves to ensure his side finished victorious.