Andy's Player Ratings: Sunderland 1-0 Portsmouth - Isidor nets winner!

01/05/2025 12:06 PM

Wilson Isidor's goal was all that separated Sunderland Portsmouth on a wet, cold day at the Stadium of Light. Here's how Andy rated the Lads!

Anthony Patterson: 6/10

Had a pretty quiet game but a bit of a scare in the second half when he passed directly to a Portsmouth player on the edge of the box, thankfully it came to nothing.

Trai Hume: 7/10

Had a few difficulties in the first half against Murphy but shut him down after the break. Linked up well with Roberts and that almost created a goal or two in the second half, with Hume overlapping and picking out a cross for Mayenda and then getting off a shot himself.

Chris Mepham: 7/10

Not overly stretched today but had to be alert a few times to cover potential Pompey opportunities.

Luke O'Nien: 8/10

Good defensively and on the ball, with a few bursts forward when space opened up after the break, created an opportunity that Isidor fired just wide and also had a few shots himself but none of those troubled the goalkeeper.

Aji Alese: 6/10

Did fine in the first half without standing out but picked up a knock and was replaced at half-time by Cirkin.

Dan Neil (C): 8/10

Was a little sloppy at times in the first half but was still the best midfielder on the pitch, getting forward well and almost had an assist when he played in Isidor who had slightly strayed offside.

Jobe Bellingham: 7/10

A quieter game for Jobe, struggled to get involved during our attacks but did well defensively and made a number of good interceptions and tackles.

Patrick Roberts: 7/10

Came really close to scoring in the first half but couldn't direct Aouchiche's cross on target, constantly troubling the visitor's defence, either when he was running at them or playing in Mayenda or Hume.

Adil Aouchiche: 7/10

A decent game on the left for Aouchiche, had a couple of shots that he was unlucky with, one forced a great save in the first half and then a free effort from a corner was deflected out. Also put in some good crosses, notably one in the first that should have resulted in a Roberts goal.

Eliezer Mayenda: 7/10

Involved in the game an awful lot, got an assist early on after a nice through ball for Isidor to run onto. Had many chances to score himself but was wasteful in front of goal, hit the side netting when well placed in the first half and had a free effort blocked on the line after the break.

Wilson Isidor: 7/10

Not involved in general play much but scored a good striker's goal after getting onto Mayenda's ball and tucking the ball home. Smashed another goal in but had been adjudged just offside in the build up, then came close to another after O'Nien's driving run but curled his effort millimetres wide.

Substitutes

Dennis Cirkin: 7/10

Very comfortable defensively and got forward really well, often getting to the byline and putting a dangerous cross in. Was hauled down on the edge of the box with his first touch but the referee ignored the foul.

Milan Aleksic: 6/10

A very bright cameo for Aleksic, showed some skill on the ball out wide and burst forward late on and made a pinpoint pass to Mayenda on the edge of the box.

Nazariy Rusyn: N/A

A very late change as we saw out time.

Man of the Match: Luke O'Nien

After his shocker against Sheffield United, O'Nien returned to form today. Defended well the entire game and looked more comfortable on the ball early on than some of his team-mates, then started getting forward more after the break when space opened up. Came very close to setting up a goal when his lung bursting run and ball ended up at Isidor's feet on the edge of the box but his shot narrowly curled wide of the post.