Regis Le Bris secured his fourth Premier League win as Sunderland boss against Wolves, but one selection decision proved to be a disaster.
Nordi Mukiele continued his sensational form as he opened his account in English football before a 92nd-minute Ladislav Krejci own goal secured a 2-0 victory at the Stadium of Light.
The result means the Black Cats have opened up a 12-point gap to bottom-of-the-table Wolves and are now nine points clear of the relegation zone.
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However, Le Bris will undoubtedly regret his decision to select one player to start the clash on Saturday after he recorded fewer touches of the ball than goalkeeper Robin Roefs.
Robin Roefs of Sunderland during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Aston Villa at Stadium of Light.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Regis Le Bris should not have started Chris Rigg
Chris Rigg is regarded as a “generational” talent and was on the radar of Premier League rivals Manchester United and Arsenal heading into the 2025/26 campaign.
The 18-year-old has since lost his place in the starting line-up after featuring prominently in the Championship last term, but was given a golden opportunity to impress at the Stadium of Light.
It was an opportunity that was well and truly squandered, as Rigg lined up behind Wilson Isidor in the number 10 role and attempted only 14 passes in 76 minutes on the pitch.
Chris Rigg vs Wolves Total
Touches 22
Passes completed 64%
Successful dribbles 0%
Ground Duels won 60%
Aerial Duels won 0%
Tackles 2
Statistics provided by Fotmob.
Indeed, Jermain Defoe urged supporters to back the team and make the Stadium of Light a fortress once again in the top division, and while Sunderland did earn all three points, Rigg’s display will have left Le Bris feeling concerned.
Simon Adingra impressed with Ivory Coast during the international break but was benched on Saturday for the England Under-19 international – a decision that Sunderland can consider themselves lucky did not backfire.
Rigg has fallen down the pecking order on Wearside with summer signings Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki dominating in central midfield, and after Saturday’s display, he will undoubtedly face a long road ahead to earn back a starting berth.
Chris Rigg’s performance caused Enzo Le Fee to suffer
Le Bris moved Enzo Le Fee from his preferred attacking midfield role onto the left flank to accommodate the introduction of Rigg.
It is safe to say that the Frenchman is more suited to the central role, and his impact on the flanks faltered in comparison to what he has shown at Sunderland this season.
Furthermore, Isidor had a rare off-day at the Stadium of Light, and Bertrand Traore, who shone on international duty, also struggled to make an impact against the current worst side in the top-flight.
While Le Bris managed to come away from the clash unscathed, his decision clearly upset the balance of his side, and with survival becoming more and more of a possibility with each match, he cannot afford to take another big risk.