Yesterday afternoon, Sunderland traveled to The Hawthorns, and Pierre Ekwah’s goal in the first half proved to be the difference.

West Brom’s fortunes took a turn for the worse when Brandom Thomas-Asante received a red card, leaving them vulnerable. Shortly after, Ekwah’s goal from a corner just before half-time dealt a significant blow to their hopes.

Sunderland managed to limit West Brom to only three shots on target throughout the match and appeared fairly comfortable in the second half, ultimately securing all three points.

This victory marked Sunderland’s fifth clean sheet in seven games, demonstrating their defensive solidity. Moreover, they have collected seven points from their last three away games, a noteworthy improvement considering they had only won one of their previous 14 away outings.

Despite their season effectively being over, Sunderland’s win against West Brom has provided a morale boost. Manager Mike Dodds expressed that the team is feeling “really good” following their recent positive performances.

 

What Sunderland told Mike Dodds at full-time

After the match, the Black Cats coach revealed what his players shared with him at full-time, stating to the Sunderland Echo: “The group just had a chance to speak in there and they feel they’re in a really good place, that’s five clean sheets in six games.”

He emphasized the importance of defensive solidity, highlighting how not conceding goals provides a solid foundation for any team. However, he also expressed a desire for his team to play more freely with the ball, acknowledging that focusing on defensive stability can sometimes detract from attacking fluidity.

“So, if I’m being extremely critical, I need to find that balance. However, they are a talented team with a great coach. The red card certainly shifted the momentum of the game, but overall, I believe it was a professional and thorough performance. As a group, we discussed our attacking strategies, and we felt there were opportunities we could have capitalized on more effectively, which we didn’t consistently exploit.

“That being said, it’s important not to be overly critical because they’ve delivered three or four solid performances recently, showcasing themselves as a strong and cohesive unit. It’s easy to overlook the fact that we have the youngest team in the league, yet they displayed remarkable maturity. I aim to maintain high standards, but securing a 1-0 victory here, despite the red card, is a commendable result.”

What does this mean for next season?

Sunderland appeared disoriented and struggled to keep pace in recent months, but their recent performances suggest they are regaining their confidence and stability.

While it may be deemed too little, too late in terms of achieving significant goals for this season, it’s incredibly promising to witness the players rediscovering their enjoyment for the game. This resurgence offers genuine hope to fans that the team can begin the next season on a much more positive trajectory.

The jubilant celebrations at full-time illustrate the strong camaraderie among the players and their gratitude for the support they receive. Perhaps there’s still a glimmer of hope at the Stadium of Light.

If the team can maintain this level of performance in the final three games, it could inject some much-needed optimism into what was anticipated to be a bleak summer.