Sunderland are without a win in four Premier League games but took a step in the right direction at Bournemouth
Phil Smith was there reporting for The Echo and these were his key conclusions....
Sunderland play like Sunderland again
There will be frustration for Sunderland as they reflect on this 1-1 draw, because on another day it could have been a truly massive win in their season. They consistently came out on the wrong side of the key refereeing decisions (though Andoni Iraola was probably fair to suggest Robin Roefs did get lucky on one occasion in the first half), and were ruthlessly punished for their one major defensive lapse in the second half. Such is the level of the Premier League: In one of their most controlled phases of the game Sunderland switched off at a quick free kick and with 20 seconds, the hosts were level.
For all that frustration, this was still very much a step back in the right direction for Sunderland who to put it bluntly, looked like Sunderland again. Where they were lethargic against Fulham, here they were tenacious and full of running. They pressed high and were aggressive when the opportunity presented, and defended their box in numbers and resolutely when required. The balance between respecting the opposition's strengths and imposing themselves on the game was good, and they were rewarded for their positivity both in terms of selection and game plan early on. Bournemouth are a strong side and at home especially, they combine real physicality with craft on the ball in Alex Scott. The decision to invest in Brazilian forward Rayan as a replacement for Antoine Semenyo looks inspired, he has pace to burn and is a real threat in the air. This is a well-balanced squad with a depth built over a number of transfer windows: there's a reason why Le Bris said they were something of an inspiration to the Black Cats ahead of the clash between the two at the Stadium of Light earlier this year.
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Sunderland, though, matched them for the most part and would likely have gone on to win had Habib Diarra scored when Enzo Le Fée sent him through on goal early in the second half. The result wasn't quite what Sunderland wanted in the end, but this will reassure fans that the campaign is not destined to fizzle out after a poor run of league results. Sunderland looked motivated, united and determined to get back to winning ways. It's a good platform to build on for the weeks ahead.
Inconsistency of refereeing frustrates - to put it mildly
There were a lot of big talking points in this game but the biggest one would undoubtedly have been had Omar Alderete turned Rayan's shot into his own goal 102 minutes into this contest. Why were we still playing?! Eight minutes had been added on, and there were no significant stoppages in that period. While refereeing is spoken about too much generally and the officials themselves subject to unacceptable abuse on a consistent basis, you simply can't analyse this match without discussing the inconsistencies that made it such a frustrating watch.And it was a game that underlined the frustration that so many feel with VAR. If the decision not to award a penalty when Le Fée was bundled over in the box by Alex Jimenez in the box was not a clear and obvious error, then what on earth is? What does 'normal' contact even mean and how can pushing a player in the back and taking out his back leg without playing the ball not constitute a foul? Above all else, why were fouls swiftly given elsewhere on the pitch when the contact was smaller?
The key decisions in the second half were clearly more marginal, though Sunderland were unfortunate to come out on the wrong side of both of them. Again, you can feel that goals like Evanilson's should generally be awarded and not micro-analysed on review, but wonder why the check was so brief when later in the day it took five minutes to then overturn a goal from Burnley striker Ashley Barnes with questionable evidence. What it is surely fair to say is that the best refereeing teams aren't much noticed in games. That was very clearly not the case here and when VAR was needed, it fluffed its lines. If it doesn't correct the big errors, then is it worth the time and joy it is taking out of the game? Surely not.
Le Bris opts for pragmatism with Le Fée call - and gets instant results
Le Fée was Sunderland's most decisive player in the game, pushed close perhaps by the again mightily impressive Dan Ballard. His close control and dribbling ability was crucial to the way Sunderland were able to impose themselves on the contest early on, and his run and pass for Diarra in the second half could and perhaps should been the crucial moment in the game. To an extent there is a frustration at seeing such an influential player spending spells of the game away from the action on the touchline, but it's also a sensible call given a) it's currently Sunderland's weakest position and b) injuries mean Le Bris just needs to get his best and most experienced players on the pitch to navigate a tough run of form. Le Fée out wide allows the midfield trio of Xhaka, Sadiki and Diarra from the opening games of the season to be reprised, and gives the team a good foothold in and out of possession. It's not ideal, but it feels like it's the right way to go in the short term. With Bertrand Traoré back in action on the right, the starting XI has good balance and experience even if the depth of the group isn't quite there.
Eliezer Mayenda takes his opportunity
As Le Bris said afterwards, Mayenda sniffed out his moment to score and for strikers, that is the most important thing. But as Le Bris also pointed out, arguably most encouraging for Sunderland was the way the youngster was able to impose himself on the contest more generally against an imposing defensive line. Mayenda pressed well, made the ball stick and brought his team mates into play in good areas. Le Bris put it nicely in his post-match press conference when he said the striker had shown he was 'ready to give everything' for the team. This was a massive opportunity, and he took it. One of the major positives on a broadly good day for Sunderland.
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