Fan Letters: "Sunderland's squad depth was tested to the limit against Millwall"

Today at 01:00 AM

Despite the frustration of Saturday, RR reader Carl Atkinson remains optimistic about our chances of success this season. Got something to say? Email us: RokerReport@yahoo.co.uk

Dear Roker Report,

Saturday's draw against Millwall left me feeling like we'd left something behind.

For ninety minutes, Sunderland controlled the game, displayed incredible defensive discipline, and even produced a moment of magic with Aaron Connolly's volley. Yet, in the blink of an eye, that hard work was undone by one counter attack.

You've rightly pointed out that our squad depth was tested to its limits.

Missing Jobe Bellingham, Trai Hume and Patrick Roberts, as well as others through injury, would cripple most teams, yet to still come away with a point — and nearly all three — speaks volumes about the resilience and adaptability of this side.

Players like Chris Mepham and Tommy Watson deserve special praise for their performances. Mepham's leadership and composure were immense, while Watson's energy on the wing was a joy to watch.

What frustrates me most is that the late equaliser felt preventable.

The lack of calmness in possession during the second half, particularly from Dan Neil, was costly and I hope this game serves as a learning curve for managing tight situations.

Still, I can't help but feel optimistic. This team has grit, talent and belief, and we remain unbeaten in nine. With key players returning soon, there's no reason we can't push for a strong finish to the season.

Carl Atkinson

Ed's Note [Phil]: Hi, Carl. Thank you for your letter.

My overriding feeling post-Millwall was that we had let what would've been a very, very impressive victory slip, but I also don't think that any one player can be faulted.

Instead, the equalizing goal was a collective problem as we failed to prevent the counter attack after committing men forward in search of what would've certainly been a winner.

You rightly highlight the amount of injuries and suspensions we were dealing with, and it must be said that the players selected did a very good job, but we do need to ensure that these narrow margins are converted into victories, and that means getting smarter and developing the ability to see out games.

It can certainly be fixed, and with two tricky games to come this week, I really hope the Lads can show their mettle against West Brom and Sheffield United. The race for the top six is beginning to heat up, and although we've got a squad that's capable of challenging, we can't afford to drop points cheaply.

Dear Roker Report,

What's wrong with this team?

We play decent football in the first half, then come out and play rubbish, allowing the other team to get the upper hand. We have no control over the midfield play and give the ball away too much.

I suggest putting Chris Mepham or Luke O'Nien in the middle and taking out Dan Neil, who's only had two shots at goal in the last four matches.

The way we've been playing in the last four matches in the second half isn't promotion play, as we've allowed the rest to catch up when we had a comfortable five-point lead.

Bill Calvert

Ed's Note [Phil]: Hi, Bill. Thank you for getting in touch.

In recent games, there's certainly been a noticeable drop in the intensity of our second half performances - not least against Coventry, during which we went into the break in a comfortable position but failed to kick on during the second half.

Personally, I think it's simply down to our mentality, which has often looked very, very strong this season.

We need to have the confidence to continue to play as we know we can for ninety minutes, and when we have the opposition on in a tricky position, we don't let them off the hook. That's what the best sides are capable of doing, and it's something that we've yet to master under Régis Le Bris.

We're very, very tough to beat, which is a positive, but we also need to develop the edge that can enable us to convert tight games into victories.

Dear Roker Report,

Sunderland are evolving, but there's still work to do.

The defensive performance was top notch for most of the game, and it's clear that Regis Le Bris has drilled the backline well.

Chris Mepham was majestic, Dan Ballard was in his element, and Aji Alese slotted back in seamlessly. It's a credit to the team that even with eight players out, we were more than a match for Millwall.

But it's hard not to feel like we squandered two points.

The decision to pile forward late in the game instead of settling and maintaining control proved costly. Milan Aleksic's miss felt like the turning point and from there, we looked stretched. You highlighted Bellingham's absence and I agree — his maturity and composure are sorely missed and Dan Neil and Wilson Isidor, while talented, struggled to fill that void on Saturday.

On the bright side, I'm excited about Eliezer Mayenda's potential.

His directness on the right caught Millwall off guard, and it's refreshing to see a winger who can create chaos. Tommy Watson also impressed, and it's encouraging to see our young players stepping up when given the chance.

My question is this: are we learning from these moments?

The Championship is unforgiving, and we've dropped points from winning positions too often this season. With players returning soon, I hope the squad can sharpen up and make these experiences count.

Ian Hughes

Ed's Note [Phil]: Hi, Ian. Thank you for your letter.

It was very much a game of differing fortunes for Sunderland on Saturday. As you rightly point out, several of the players really impressed, and had we seen out the game for a victory, we would've been good value for the win.

I fully agree with your point about the unforgiving nature of the Championship.

It's a very open league this season, and any side can beat anyone on any given day, so if we want to maintain a promotion challenge, we can't afford to slacken off when it comes to game management.

As I say above, we're tough to beat and sides know they'll have to work very hard in order to take points from us, but at the same time, we can't give opponents easy routes back into games, and I'm sure Régis Le Bris will be getting this message across to the players.