This Sunderland jerk may have played his final game ever against Millwall in a Black Cats strip.
Every time Sunderland appear poised to regain confidence and string together a series of favorable outcomes in the Championship, they encounter yet another setback. Millwall solidified their position as a Championship team with a 1-0 victory at the Stadium of Light, taking advantage of a generous home side that allowed the Lions to capitalize on their lone shot on target, narrowly clinching the win.
Bradley Dack’s performance vs Millwall in numbers
Bradley Dack’s presence in Dodds’ starting lineup on Saturday came as a surprise, given his frequent presence in the treatment room at Sunderland rather than on the pitch this season. With substantial periods of absence due to a recurring thigh problem, this match marked only his 16th Championship appearance for the Black Cats, and unfortunately, it was not a particularly noteworthy one.
The injury-prone 30-year-old lasted only 45 minutes before Dodds substituted him off, having managed just 11 touches of the ball while playing as a lone forward for Sunderland. Despite his efforts, Dack failed to attempt a single shot on the Millwall goal during his disappointing performance at the Stadium of Light. Although he did provide two key passes, he struggled to pose a significant scoring threat himself. Dodds explained the substitution as a tactical adjustment after the game, but Dack’s below-par display likely also influenced the decision to make the change at halftime.
| Dack’s performance in numbers | |
|---|---|
| Minutes played | 45 |
| Touches | 11 |
| Accurate passes | 5/6 |
| Shots on goal | 0 |
| Duels won | 0/2 |
| Stats by Sofascore | |
Receiving a mediocre 5/10 rating from Sunderland Echo journalist Phil Smith in the aftermath of the match, Dack might find himself replaced by another Sunderland player when they face Watford next. With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, and Sunderland keen on promoting emerging talent, it seems improbable that Dack will be retained, especially considering his lackluster performance against Millwall, which could possibly mark his final appearance in a Black Cats jersey.
Dack’s future at Sunderland
Dack might follow in the footsteps of Corry Evans and depart this summer, as his teammate has also faced a string of unfortunate injuries. Evans, like Dack, is out of contract and at 33 years old, stands among the more seasoned players remaining in the squad, alongside the 30-year-old Dack.
If Dack were to become a free agent this summer, it would mark a somber turn of events for him. He was brought to the club by former manager Tony Mowbray at the beginning of the season, with hopes of reigniting the success he experienced at Ewood Park.
The plan has clearly fallen short, as Dack has only managed to score one goal this season, a stark contrast to his prolific form during the 2018-19 season for Blackburn, where the 5-foot-9 attacker netted an impressive 15 goals at the same level.
🎶 "Daaaaaaack! Dack will tear you apart again! 🎶
🌹 @Rovers' @BradDacks40 has magic in his boots. #Rovers pic.twitter.com/yUWDBFEs8o
— Sky Bet (@SkyBet) July 14, 2019
Even still, it appears that his finest days are well behind him given his performance against Millwall.