The Sunderland defender admitted it “felt like a penalty” after the early decision that left Régis Le Bris’ side frustrated at the Vitality Stadium
Dan Ballard admitted it “felt like a penalty” after Sunderland were denied an early spot-kick in their 1-1 draw with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
Sunderland were convinced they should have been awarded a penalty inside the opening exchanges when Eliezer Mayenda went down in the box. The decision was checked but not overturned, with play continuing and the hosts eventually fighting back to earn a point.
Ballard, speaking to BBC Match of the Day after the game, offered a measured response to the controversy. “It felt like it was a penalty at the time. I’ve not seen it. It’s a tough job to referee, especially on a day like today, where both teams are going at it. It’s difficult for them, but it did feel like a penalty.”
The defender’s comments came after a hard-fought contest in which Eliezer Mayenda’s first-half goal was cancelled out by Evanilson’s second-half equaliser, extending Bournemouth’s unbeaten run while ending Sunderland’s three-game losing streak.
Reflecting on the performance overall, Ballard felt Sunderland had rediscovered some of the fundamentals that had been missing in recent weeks. “It was an intense game. It’s a tough place to come here. They bring high energy. All the duals are tough. We’ve struggled of late, and we needed to bring it back to basics. We did that, and we matched them.”
The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC Channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join ourSAFC WhatsApp channel.
Ballard also highlighted the importance of Granit Xhaka’s return to the starting XI after injury, with the midfielder’s leadership seen as a key factor in stabilising the side. “We’ve missed him of late and we’ve had our toughest run of the season. To have a natural leader like that come into the team is great. It was important to bounce back. I think we’ve done that today. They put you under pressure all game. It’s hard to have control of the ball; it can feel end-to-end. It’s a tough place to come, so we can be proud of the performance today.”
The result moves Sunderland onto 37 points with 10 Premier League games remaining, as Régis Le Bris’ side look to build momentum after halting their recent slide of three back-to-back league losses against Arsenal, Liverpool and Fulham previously.
Continue Reading