Sunderland are doing lots of things no one expected this season, but now Regis Le Bris must ensure his team do something they haven’t managed since 2016.
Regis Le Bris has worked wonders at Sunderland over the last year and a half. Obviously, the financial backing of Kyril Louis-Dreyfus helps, but there’s no denying that the Black Cats coach has been influential.
He’s now steered Sunderland to five wins from nine games in the Premier League, and pre-season expectations of relegation seem a thing of the past now.
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It’s been an unbelievable start to the season for Sunderland, but a tough test against Everton awaits on Monday night.
David Moyes looks frustrated during an Everton match.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Sunderland have struggled against Everton in recent meetings
Admittedly, facing an inconsistent Everton side at home, with the swell of support from the Stadium of Light faithful behind them, Sunderland will fancy their chances.
But, a look at the recent history between these two teams only points in one direction. In fact, in the last three meetings, Sunderland have not even been able to score against the Toffees.
Date Result Competition
20 Apr 2013 Sunderland 1-0 Everton Premier League
26 Dec 2013 Everton 0-1 Sunderland Premier League
12 Apr 2014 Sunderland 0-1 Everton Premier League
09 Nov 2014 Sunderland 1-1 Everton Premier League
09 May 2015 Everton 0-2 Sunderland Premier League
01 Nov 2015 Everton 6-2 Sunderland Premier League
11 May 2016 Sunderland 3-0 Everton Premier League
12 Sep 2016 Sunderland 0-3 Everton Premier League
25 Feb 2017 Everton 2-0 Sunderland Premier League
20 Sep 2017 Everton 3-0 Sunderland League Cup
Last ten meetings between Sunderland and Everton
Ironically, it was current Everton manager David Moyes who was in charge of Sunderland for the last two league clashes between the two teams, during the relegation campaign of 2016/17.
The Wearside outfit suffered a 3-0 defeat at home in September 2016, before losing 2-0 at Goodison Park in February 2017.
After relegation, Moyes predicted a Sunderland rebuild, but he wasn’t around to oversee that. Simon Grayson was next up, but he could do no better, with his team losing 3-0 to Everton in the League Cup in September 2017.
There have been some positives in the relatively recent past, though. Sunderland won 3-0 at the Stadium of Light in May 2016, with a goal from Patrick van Aanholt and a brace from Lamine Kone sealing the three points for the Black Cats.
Over the course of history, these two teams have met a whopping 184 times. Everton have won 83 of those games, while Sunderland have won 71, with 30 draws
Wilson Isidor during Sunderland v Aston Villa - Premier League
Photo by Martin Swinney – Sunderland AFC/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images
Wilson Isidor will be key vs Everton
The obvious solution to Sunderland’s previous struggles in front of goal against Everton will be Wilson Isidor. The Frenchman has four goals this season already and looks incredibly confident right now.
His pace and physicality will be a real problem for the Toffees, and as we’ve seen already, he only needs one chance to make a difference.
There is also a chance that Brian Brobbey could have a role to play. The young Dutchman registered an assist when coming off the bench against Chelsea last weekend, and bagged his first goal for the club during Under-21 duty in midweek.
Sunderland may be looking for another striker in January, but if their forwards can deliver once again on Monday night, Le Bris may think twice before adding to his attacking roster.