Steve McManaman criticised Sunderland’s tactics after their 1-0 win at Elland Road against Leeds United
Liverpool legend Steve McManaman has criticised Sunderland’s approach during their 1-0 Premier League win over Leeds United at Elland Road.
Régis Le Bris’ side left West Yorkshire with all three points after Habib Diarra’s second-half penalty proved decisive in a tight contest that lacked quality for long stretches. The victory moved Sunderland onto 40 points for the campaign, but the manner of the performance sparked debate in the aftermath.
Leeds had started brightly and enjoyed periods of pressure throughout the match, yet once again struggled to convert their approach play into clear-cut chances. Daniel Farke’s side created only half opportunities across the 90 minutes and ultimately paid the price when Sunderland capitalised from the penalty spot.
The decisive moment arrived after a VAR intervention in the second half when referee Stuart Attwell was sent to the pitchside monitor to review a handball inside the area. After initially allowing play to continue, the official pointed to the spot following the review.
Diarra stepped up and, despite Karl Darlow getting close to the effort, the ball squirmed past the goalkeeper and into the net to hand Sunderland the advantage. Leeds’ frustration was compounded by the fact they had a Joe Rodon header ruled out for offside only minutes earlier, a sequence that shifted the momentum of the game.
Despite the victory, Sunderland’s game management during the latter stages of the match drew criticism from some observers. Several stoppages slowed the tempo as the visitors looked to protect their lead in a hostile Elland Road atmosphere. Former Liverpool and England winger Steve McManaman was among those to voice his displeasure while working as a pundit for TNT Sports.
“I thought there was too much playacting, too much time wasting, I thought everything wrong with the game came out tonight,” he said. I know Sunderland won’t care but as somebody who watches it and appreciates and wants to see nice football, getting the ball down and playing, there was a real lack of quality tonight from both teams.”
While the spectacle may not have impressed everyone watching, Sunderland will be far more concerned with the outcome. The win represented an important result for Le Bris’ side, who secured their first away league victory since October and reached the 40-point mark in their first season back in the Premier League.
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