Habib Diarra, a summer signing from Strasbourg, claimed a goal and an assist, Chemsdine Talbi, brought in from Club Brugge, cracked home a brilliant finish via the underside of the crossbar and Brian Brobbey, a deadline-day arrival from Ajax in August, was the Man of the Match as he powered his way through the Burnley defence.
It was Sunderland’s biggest win since their opening-day success against West Ham, and means the Black Cats remain the only Premier League side not to have suffered a home defeat in the league this season.11 down, eight to go in terms of trying to extend that record all the way to the end of the campaign.
Burnley were dreadful, devoid of passion or creativity, but the ease with which Sunderland outplayed them was nevertheless hugely impressive. So much for the defeat at West Ham suggesting the season was going to limp towards its conclusion.
Diarra was making his first start since returning from his AFCON success with Senegal, and it took the midfielder just nine minutes to make his mark.
The opener owed much to some lovely link play from Brobbey, who held off two defenders before flicking the ball into Diarra’s path. The midfielder was initially held up in the penalty area, but he retained his composure and fired in a shot that found the net via a hefty deflection off Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe. With replays showing Diarra’s shot was not on target, the goal was registered as a Tuanzebe own goal.
Brobbey’s physical strength was a problem for Burnley all evening, with the Dutchman delivering a classic ‘number nine’ display that saw him regularly holding off opposition centre-halves to retain possession.
While Wilson Isidor and Eliezier Mayenda might have started the season ahead of him in the pecking order, Brobbey has deservedly established himself as Regis Le Bris’ first-choice forward. He is something of a throwback given the relish with which he wrestles the opposition, but he is improving with every week that passes and must be a nightmare to defend against. His capture from Ajax on deadline day in the summer is another major success for Sunderland’s recruitment team.
He was a big factor in the Black Cats gaining the upper hand last night, and the hosts came close to doubling their advantage when Talbi flicked a first-time volley wide from Nordi Mukiele’s cross.
Mukiele was playing in a hybrid defensive role – one of three centre-halves when Sunderland were defending, but given licence to bomb forward down the right-hand side when the Black Cats had the ball – and the Frenchman was heavily involved in his side’s second goal shortly after the half-hour mark.
Enzo Le Fee’s raking pass sent him scurrying down the touchline, and while his cross was cut out by a sliding Florentino Luis, the ball broke invitingly for Diarra, who drilled home a goal that could not be taken off him. It was his first since scoring for Senegal in a friendly against England last summer.
Burnley looked every inch like a team destined to spend next season in the Championship as they were outmuscled and outthought by a Sunderland side that finished 24 points below them last season. How things have changed since then.
Only three members of Sunderland’s starting XI last night played in the Championship, with the quality of the club’s summer transfer business having enabled them to make such a successful return to the top-flight.
Defensively, the Black Cats have been completely transformed thanks to the addition of the likes of Mukiele, Omar Alderete and Reinildo Mandava, and all three were excellent again yesterday as Robin Roefs barely had to make a save.
Burnley tried to find a way back into the game in the second half, but the vast majority of their attacks were thwarted long before they were able to make it to Sunderland’s penalty area.
Reinildo fired over at the other end as the Black Cats looked to pull three goals clear, before Brobbey almost claimed the goal his performance fully deserved. The Dutchman rolled off his marker superbly as he received Diarra’s pass, but his low shot was saved by former Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. Mukiele was first to the rebound, but he fired over.
It felt as though a third goal was coming, and it arrived in spectacular fashion with 18 minutes left. Picking up the ball in a pocket of space, Talbi drove past substitute Josh Laurent before cracking home a brilliant 20-yard strike that flew into the net via the underside of the crossbar.