How did the players fare in Sunderland's 2-0 win over Middlesbrough in the Wear-Tees derby?
SUNDERLAND (4-2-3-1):
7 Patterson: Made an important first-half save from Forss
7 Hume: Got into some good positions breaking down the right-hand side
8 Ballard: Marked both Crooks and Forss out of the game in a dominant defensive display
7 Batth: Helped keep Boro quiet and made a couple of important blocks in the box
7 Alese: Justified his recall to the side with an athletic defensive performance
5 Evans: Only lasted ten minutes before he was forced off with an injury
9 NEIL: Ran the game from the heart of midfield, with his passing and movement too much for Boro
8 Roberts: Sent Stewart scampering clear for the penalty and claimed the assist for Amad’s goal
8 Amad: Capped a fine attacking display with a clinical finish to double his side’s lead
7 Clarke: Caused problems cutting in from the left and was always an attacking outlet
8 Stewart: Showed all his nous to win the penalty and kept his nerve after his initial effort was saved
Subs:
7 Michut (for Evans, 11): Slotted in effectively and came close to scoring with a shot that was blocked
Wright (for Alese, 70)
Ba (for Roberts, 81)
Bennette (for Clarke, 81)
(not used): Bass (gk), Taylor, Dajaku.
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1):
4 Steffen: Looked shaky from the off and should have left his line to deal with Stewart’s break clear
5 Smith: Plugged away down the right was never really on top of his battle with Clarke
4 Fry: Lost Stewart on a couple of occasions – and panicked as he conceded the foul that led to his dismissal
6 Lenihan: Made a couple of crucial tackles in the first half as he returned following an injury lay-off
6 Giles: Was one of Boro’s main attacking outlets, even if the quality of his crossing was mixed
5 Howson: Never really got to grips with Sunderland’s midfield after his early yellow card
5 Hackney: Was outshone by Neil and couldn’t exert any control at the heart of midfield
6 Forss: Came close with a first-half effort that Patterson turned around the post
5 Akpom: Couldn’t maintain his fine recent form as he was starved of the ball for long spells
6 McGREE: Boro’s best performer, even if he failed to make the most of a couple of decent positions
5 Crooks: Failed to threaten the Sunderland goal and was sacrificed after the sending off
Subs:
5 McNair (for Crooks, 52): Slotted into the heart of the back four, but was fighting a losing battle
4 Archer (for Forss, 65): Is still to make any kind of an impact in a Boro shirt
(not used): Roberts (gk), Bola, Jones, Watmore, Hoppe.
Man Of The Match: DAN NEIL – Sunderland’s homegrown midfielder stole the show as he dictated play.
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