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Aug 23, 2026, 5:00 AM UTC
Ipswich Town v Sunderland - Premier League 2026/27
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Calum Mills says…
Marauding Meunier
The only positive from the game today for me.
He may nearly be thirty five but he still has so much to offer.
He was brilliant up and down the pitch and showed great technique throughout — especially for the first-time volley with the outside of his boot.
Defensive disasterclass
Both Luke O’Nien and Omar Alderete had calamitous moments, resulting in Sunderland conceding goals.
We didn’t look particularly confident at the back all game and I felt Reinildo looked extremely weak against Abdul Fatawu (or maybe Fatawu really is that good?)
A sub-par display from Granit Xhaka
The typical route through Xhaka also looked like at an impasse.
He was caught on the ball a few times and his passing didn’t seem to have that power or pop it had last season.
Self-inflicted Sunderland mistakes
Finally, I felt like we tried to overplay it inside the eighteen-yard box, and Brian Brobbey, Trai Hume and Enzo Le Fée were guilting of trying to pass rather than having a shot.
The chance around the fifty fifth minute, where the ball came into Brobbey’s left foot, looked like it could’ve been hit first time, but he took a touch and by that time, he’d been well closed down.
Anyway…we go again.
IPSWICH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Emersonn of Ipswich Town scores his team’s first goal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Ipswich Town and Sunderland at Portman Road on August 22, 2026 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
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Ian Clark says…
Noah Sadiki, Thomas Meunier and Robin Roefs stand out
Sadiki looked decent and covered a lot of ground as usual.
Meunier was positive going forward and looked like he could be a threat in the future, and Roefs was steady without having too much to do. They were OK without doing anything spectacular.
A set piece stunner from Nilson Angulo
We learnt that Angulo can take a wicked free kick but apart from that, he was frustrating to be honest.
Plenty of chances to take on his man — especially in the first half, but was either too safe and passed it back or lost it.
A sluggish Sunderland display
The whole team looked a bit lethargic for most of the game.
No real intensity or forward intent, summed up by Enzo Le Fée having a very rare poor game. Granit Xhaka looked a bit slow and ponderous at times, and two poor mistakes for Ipswich’s goals came from Luke O’Nien and Omar Alderete.
The curse of the ex-Black Cat strikes again
Had to be Jack Clarke scoring the winner. It was nailed on when he came on the pitch late on.
John Wade says…
A promising debut for Thomas Meunier
Meunier is the only real positive from that performance.
He looks assured as you’d expect from someone with his experience. He even had a shot on target, an excellent strike from out wide.
A moment of magic from Nilson Angulo
Ángulo didn’t play brilliantly but wow, what a free kick in off the underside of the bar!
Defensive errors aplenty
I’m going to say all three centre backs as a group.
Luke O’Nien has played well during pre season but he always has a mistake in him. Not just an awful lethargic ball into midfield but a poor attempt to make a challenge. Dan Ballard makes a weak attempt to rectify the situation and to be honest was poor all day.
Omar Alderete looked unfit and slow to react, then made a horror pass into midfield that led to their winner.
IPSWICH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Granit Xhaka of Sunderland reacts after Jack Clarke of Ipswich Town scores his team’s second goal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Ipswich Town and Sunderland at Portman Road on August 22, 2026 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
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Jon Guy says…
Some positive signs for Sunderland
We controlled much of the game and looked a good deal above Ipswich.
If we’d moved the ball more quickly and our passing in the final third had been more clinical, it could’ve been emphatic, as there were times when the gap looked obvious.
Noah Sadiki shows his class
Sadiki looked a cut above and our ability to keep him is a massive plus.
He’ll be vital to our ambitions this season.
Two goals gifted to Ipswich
None of the centre backs covered themselves in glory and both goals were simply not acceptable from a team of our calibre.
Sadly there are some tough questions to be asked about the mistakes we made, and for a team with our ambitions, losing in the way we did given the control we enjoyed away from home is deeply concerning.
New attackers needed
Last season, we counter-attacked with intensity and purpose, and this was a million miles away from what we’ve have come to expect.
Our quality on the counter wasn’t there. We were ponderous in our passing and showed no real incision.
We’re hunting for a winger and a forward in the coming week, and we saw why.
Lars Knutsen says…
Sunderland play their part in a lively clash
Overall, the Lads played a massive part in a very entertaining game.
I was watching in Pennsylvania with two English friends, who felt thoroughly entertained throughout. The game was compelling, and illustrated the task we have ahead in a rejuvenated Premier League, where there are many new managers and players seeking to deliver the type of impact Sunderland made last season.
Low-key performances from important players
I felt that Brian Brobbey, Granit Xhaka, Trai Hume and Dan Ballard were less dominant than usual.
Two players, though, stepped up for me: Noah Sadiki and Thomas Meunier on his debut.
The Belgian didn’t put a foot wrong and his anticipation and reading of the game were outstanding. Once the rest of the team get up to last season’s level, we’ll win games again.
Jack Clarke has the final say
We sold him as part of “The Model”, that transaction and three others paved the way financially for the remarkable 2025 recruitment, but all know what an outstanding finisher he is, as he showed again here.
He’ll prosper this year and is clearly appreciated in Suffolk.
An opening-day blip and plenty to work on
Watching Sunderland is normally relatively relaxing, and we all enjoyed Nilson Angulo’s great goal and overall performance.
In most games, the defence is not a worry, as it’s been one of our strengths. Ipswich did impress coming forward, but we had too many slip-ups at the back for yesterday to be a satisfying watch.
I’d expected more after our last two friendly victories over top French teams, but we lacked the cohesion yesterday. Rapid improvement is needed.
IPSWICH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Chuba Akpom of Ipswich Town is tackled by Dan Ballard of Sunderland during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Ipswich Town and Sunderland at Portman Road on August 22, 2026 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
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Lee Morrison says…
Noah Sadiki and Thomas Meunier impress
The performances of both Sadiki and Meunier stood out in what was undoubtedly a disappointing performance.
I was impressed by Meunier’s composure and ability to dictate some of the play from the right back position.
For Sadiki, I thought it was encouraging to see him pick up from where he left off last season, pressing relentlessly and being a stable part of our midfield.
Nilson Angulo’s free kick silences the social media doubters
It’s always baffling to see social media during a game, but in the Musk era of X, it seems to be amplified even more and it’s disgusting to see posts ten minutes into a game which essentially say that Angulo needs taking off the pitch, that he’s “shite” etc.
If you need a reminder: it’s the first game of the season and he’s a winger. In that position, we’re naturally going to see more risks as players try to make something happen.
Needless to say, the same people were then all praising Angulo for the fantastic free kick — an early ‘Goal of the Season’ contender.
For me, perspective is needed. You can be disappointed with the result but taking to social media and criticising players is beyond unhelpful.
Poor decision making costs Sunderland
Last season, we all saw that promoted teams at home can be a formidable challenge in the early parts of the season. However, I thought we controlled the game well and dampened the atmosphere.
That made the manner of the defeat particularly frustrating, with both goals coming from very poor defensive decisions.
Whilst Luke O’Nien continues to go against his critics over the course of his Sunderland career, he needs to eliminate this part of his game, where momentary lapses/poor judgement calls will, more often than not, lead to goals being conceded.
I also agreed with his substitution, but it was even more disappointing to see Omar Alderete’s “Hold my beer” moment. Let’s hope that these poor decisions have been made early in the season and that’s the last time we discuss them.
Chances missed and prices paid
It goes without saying but had Brian Brobbey taken that early chance, I think we’d be looking at a very different outcome.
That said, it was an excellent block from the defender and we have to do what we did last season: accept that there’ll be some disappointing moments, but move on quickly and bounce back at the next available opportunity.
Mark Ryan says…
Noah Sadiki runs the show for Sunderland
Sadiki was the best player on the pitch, particularly in the first half.
He covered ground like he always has, but was far more aggressive downfield than we saw a year ago. He got into a good position and forced a strong save with a really good header.
Frustration and brilliance from Nilson Angulo
Angulo wasn’t great, but what a hit. Couldn’t have been done any better.
Tremendous leadership from Granit Xhaka and Enzo Le Fée to know what the Ecuadorian is capable of and cede the opportunity to him.
Well rewarded for their confidence in their young teammate.
Red and white defensive wobbles
The back line was simply bad.
Luke O’Nien compounded his bad pass by trying to tackle Julio Enciso at the halfway line instead of retreating, and then did almost the same thing with Enciso again. Dan Ballard hasn’t looked right all pre-season and didn’t again yesterday. He probably should’ve been more aggressive toward Jack Clarke for the winner.
Reinildo got turned inside out by Abdul Fatawu all game and Omar Alderete’s giveaway set up the decider. He hasn’t played in a month and a half, so it probably shouldn’t be surprising.
Ineffective Sunderland substitutions
Régis Le Bris was pretty aggressive with his subs, but they didn’t do much of anything.