Sunderland and Bournemouth played out a dramatic draw at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday lunchtime
This was a point firmly in the right direction for Sunderland, even if the manner of it will leave them with some frustration.
Hit by injuries and in their first real poor run of form this season, Sunderland produced a performance of intensity and no little quality against an impressive and powerful opponent in Bournemouth. The frustration was in coming out on the wrong side of some controversial refereeing calls, and that they were ruthlessly punished for a defensive lapse when in control midway through the second half.
Overall, Bournemouth were perhaps worthy of their point given the pressure they applied on the Sunderland goal, but the Black Cats will take heart from the chances of their own they created over the course of the game. After a disappointing performance and result on home turf against Fulham, this was a step back in the right direction for Regis Le Bris and his side.
Though Sunderland came into the game stretched due to injuries and with their form having dipped in recent weeks, they made a concerted and impressive effort to get on front foot.
They were the better side in the early exchanges, with Le Bris's key decision to move Enzo Le Fee back out to the left wing proving an inspired one. He was able to take control of the ball and get the Black Cats into dangerous areas, and looked to have won a penalty when he drove into the box moments after Petrovic had saved an effort from Sadiki. Jimenez challenged from behind and looked to have bundled him over, but the referee Jarred Gillett waved appeals away and VAR deemed the level of contact to be 'normal'.
Bournemouth looked to have added insult to injury when Kroupi took aim shortly after, at the end of a move in which Xhaka felt he had been fouled, but the striker dragged his effort wide of the far post. To their credit Sunderland got over their penalty frustration and continued to play most of the contest in the Bournemouth half, going toe to toe with an intense and physical opponent. They got their reward when Ballard found Diarra running in behind with a pass, the midfielder driving an effort low to Petrovic's right. The goalkeeper made the save comfortably, but pushed straight into the path of Mayenda who converted from a matter of yards. It was a huge moment for the youngster, and his hold-up play throughout the half helped keep his side in a tricky game.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Bournemouth responded well to the setback and pushed Sunderland back over the course of the half. To get to the interval unscathed the Black Cats had to rely on some strong defending at set pieces and their ever-impressive goalkeeper, who around half an hour in spilled an effort from Tavernier and reacted well to get up and make the block from Brooks.
Sunderland were coming under a lot of pressure but mostly conceding their shots from range, which Roefs was able to deal with. The best chance of the half for the hosts came right at the very end, January signing Rayan showing blistering pace to get to the byline and hook a low cross into the six-yard box. The angle was against Kroupi, but he would have been disappointed not to hit the target. Sunderland's lead at the interval was deserved for their positive start and resilience thereafter, but it was clear that they still had much to do in the second half.
Though Iraola moved quickly at the break to introduce striker Evanilson, it was again the visitors who started the brightest. As he had done so well throughout, Le Fee picked up a clever position and showed good footwork to fins space infield, releasing Diarra through on goal with a clever through ball. Diarra just couldn’t work the space to get the shot onto his stronger right foot, and ultimately drove his effort straight at Petrovic.
Sunderland’s start to the half was very good, slowing the game down well at times but ensuring they retained an attacking threat. The game swung in a dramatic five-minute period, in which Tyler Adams avoided a red card for serious foul play on Granit Xhaka following a VAR check. Sunderland switched off for just a moment shortly after and that was all it took, Bournemouth taking a free kick quickly and finding Tavernier in space with a good switch of play. The cross from the left was good and Roefs couldn’t get near it as he left his line, Evanilson rising above Alderete to turn in off the underside of the bar. Another lengthy VAR check followed, this time for handball, but the goal was given. Sunderland had played with such control in the second half, but had been punished for the briefest lapse. Buoyed by their goal, Bournemouth pushed on with Jimenez and Tavernier going close with efforts in the immediate aftermath.
A game packed with drama continued to excite right up until the final whistle, Sunderland putting the ball in the net from a set piece before seeing Lutsharel Geertruida rightly flagged for offside. Bournemouth applied heavy pressure on the Sunderland goal in the closing stages but the visitors defended well and threatened intermittently on the break, with substitute Nilson Angulo making a positive impression.
Their point was deserved, and a good one at the start of a testing week. A late scare when Alderete turned a shot from the dangerous Rayan just wide of his own goal perhaps underlined the value of the result/
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