The start of a new season inevitably brings about optimism and expectation. Unfortunately, most Sunderland fans will spend their Saturday night with their levels of optimism at an all too familiar low, this is due to the course of events that took place at the King Power Stadium today.
The buzz around the stadium courtesy of the feel good factor of a new season transferred to the pitch from the outset. Sunderland started sharply in the first ten minutes as both Defoe and Kaboul came close to breaking the deadlock following encouraging offensive play mainly influenced by new boy, Jeremain Lens.
In this league if you don’t take your chances you will get punished and oh boy were Sunderland punished.
Leicester slowly started to work their way into the game. They provided a large threat down the flanks where the defensive capabilities of Johnson and Lens were certainly put to the test. The warning signs were there for all to see and it didn’t take long before that Saturday morning
excitement about the prospect of a new season and a new Sunderland needed a reality check.
Marc Albrighton’s in swinging free kick was flicked on by Jamie Vardy to give the hosts the lead in the 11th minute. Shortly after Riyad Mahrez doubled the lead courtesy of a near identical delivery from the opposite flank. The cracks in the Sunderland defence were now all too clear
to see.
The hosts continued to exploit the shell-shocked, new look, back four of Sunderland with unrelenting wing play causing huge problems. It appeared Lee Cattermole was tasked with the job of containing Riyad Mahrez but when he cut inside on the edge of the penalty area Cattermole fell prisoner to his ways and foolishly brought him down leaving Lee Mason with no choice but to give a penalty. After Mahrez converted with ease Sunderland found themselves
3-0 within half an hour.
It was as clear to Dick Advocaat as it was to the supporters that things had to change otherwise we were heading towards Southampton away 2.0. This change came in the form of a substitution and a bold one too. Cattermole departed only 30 minutes into his debut as captain with Steven Fletcher replacing him shifting the team into a 4-4-2 formation.
The sloppy defending continued after the half time break although the offensive play was more promising with Adam executing some impressive threatening passes. It was through Johnson that Defoe opened his and Sunderland’s account for the new season with a deftly executed finish from 18 yards out after receiving a through ball from Johnson that cut through Leicester’s defence.
The heartening signs were quickly dealt a hammer blow after more poor defending. This time courtesy of Younes Kaboul failing to perform a simple clearance led to Marc Albrighton adding a fourth to Leicester’s tally.
Adam Matthews replaced Billy Jones in an attempt to sedate frantic Sunderland defending although the wide threat of Jeffrey Schlupp and many others persisted. It seemed Sunderland simply had to outscore their opponents to stand any chance of getting anything from the game.
There was a glimmer of hope in the 71st minute when Steven Fletcher headed home Jeremain Lens’ pass. But that glimmer went no further as a lack of presence and fight persisted in the centre of the park as Leicester continued to overpower their opponents. Something we can only hope new arrival Yann M’Vila can go a long way to fixing.
The intensity of the first 45 minutes took its toll on the players as the game fizzled its way to a dreary end and long journey home for Sunderland’s ever-loyal away following.
This result certainly shocked a few. Particularly because of the way the team performed defensively. Something that is worrying considering before today’s match it was thought the remainder of the transfer window would be used to find players to fill the number 9 and 10 shirts which stand unassigned. Surely now this performance brings about many questions. I guess if
you need a reality check its best to come early.
Advocaat’s view:
“It was very disappointing, but Leicester were the better side, especially in the first half.”
“They took their chances and made the most of the possession that they had.”
“We were caught out and made mistakes that a team shouldn’t be making at this level.”
“We have to learn from this. I thought we looked a little more organised in the second half with [Steven] Fletcher up front.”
“There was no sharpness and the speed of the game was very slow, when the other team had the ball they were much quicker.”
“If you’re looking for positives, it’s that both strikers scored a goal.”
“I’m extremely disappointed for the fans, they came down to back us in their numbers and that was not a great performance for them.”
Man of the match
Riyad Mahrez – Impressive throughout, torturing the Sunderland full backs and managed to register two goals to his name.
Match rating 9/10
(For the neutral)
2/10 (For SAFC fans)
Referee Lee Mason
Attendance 32,242
