Sunderland held on for a win over Middlesbrough in the Championship, with the highlight being a Chris Rigg back heel that found the back of the net.
ANTHONY PATTERSON: 6.5/10
I can't give him too low of a rating because he did keep a clean sheet but he had a few moments where it looked like an error of his could have cost us. His distribution was noticeably poor as well. Still, it didn’t harm us too badly in the end.
TRAI HUME: 6.5/10
There’s a big argument that he should have been sent off in the first half and I don’t think he was as sharp as he normally is, we’ve seen better. Once again, he still played his part in a clean sheet today so he’s not been given a low rating.
CHRIS MEPHAM: 7.5/10
A solid debut for the centre back, he’s certainly made a case for starting him over Ballard next week. He kept his cool in the last parts of the second half when it just looked like Middlesbrough’s barrage may get the best of us. The rating may be slightly harsh but as a collective the defence could have done better at times.
LUKE O'NIEN: 7/10
He was the joint-most fouled player in this game, testament to his battling playstyle. He was generally solid, he had the odd moment though.
DENNIS CIRKIN: 7.5/10
Cirkin put in a good performance today and he’s consistently been one of our best players on the pitch this season. Isaiah Jones didn’t exactly make his life easy but he played his football well and contributed massively to the three points.
DAN NEIL: 6/10
I could have been a lot harsher than six, it would seem a tad cruel given the result though. I didn’t really notice him throughout a lot of the game and when we were under pressure that’s not what you want from your captain. Felt a bit of a passenger.
JOBE BELLINGHAM: 8/10
He did well, was eager to run forward and was quite impressive at keeping hold of the ball under some quite nasty pressing from Boro at times. Was the other most fouled player and also created the most chances in this one, Bellingham continues his fantastic form.
PATRICK ROBERTS: 8/10
Helped set up the goal and gave their defenders a lot of problems when he drove forward, his runs also relieved some of the pressure from their attacks as well. His shooting let him down again but he did a lot without finding the net himself.
CHRIS RIGG: 8.5/10
I was very close to giving him a nine, that silly tackle that saw him booked does knock him down ever so slightly unfortunately though. Putting that aside, he obviously was the goal scorer but he did a lot more good work than that, helping the midfield with his passing and assertiveness throughout the game. A deserved man of the match and, it’s said every week but deservedly so, the fact he’s 17 is still ridiculous.
ROMAINE MUNDLE: 7.5/10
A solid shift from Mundle, was very unlucky not to find the back of the net at one point with a free kick striking the post. He didn’t feel like his usual clinical self other than that though, expecting him to score every week would be a bit unfair however.
ELIEZER MAYENDA: 7/10
I felt he could have offered a bit more, he didn;t have a single shot throughout the game. Mayenda very nearly won us a penalty though and he did play an important role in holding up the ball for us.
SUBS:
WILSON ISIDOR: N/A
I don’t rate players who come on after the 80th minute so he doesn’t get a rating. However, he did well enough with his limited time. He operated as a makeshift right back of sorts, which was interesting to see.
DAN BALLARD: N/A
He was only on the pitch for a matter of seconds.
