Talking Points: Mundle's magic saves the day for Sunderland against Preston
Yesterday at 02:00 AM
The winger's sensational long-range finish helped the Lads to a gritty if slightly underwhelming draw with the Lilywhites. Phil West looks at the game's main stories
Sunderland gain a point but fail to make inroads
After Leeds' recent mini-wobble and the fact that both Sheffield United and Burnley drew on Tuesday night, this has to go down as another major opportunity missed for Sunderland — the latest of many, it must be said.
Many fans might've written off our automatic promotion hopes some weeks ago, but the eight-point gap was by no means insurmountable provided we took advantage of chances such as this, but as has so often been the case, we just couldn't do it.
After steadying the ship with wins over Cardiff and Sheffield Wednesday, was it expecting too much for the Lads to make a statement against the Lilywhites and prove that they really do believe that promotion is achievable this season?
That's certainly not the impression I had during Tuesday night's game and at a time of the season where mentality is key and your resilience is tested on a weekly basis, the players' confidence doesn't appear as unshakable as it could be and a largely disjointed performance did little to dispel that notion.
'Good, but not quite good enough' is a fairly accurate summary of our efforts during 2024/2025, and Saturday's trip to Coventry City (themselves duffed up by Derby County on Tuesday night) is sure to be another stern test.
A different approach but a similar story
For me, Sunderland haven't turned in a truly convincing performance at home since beating Sheffield United on New Year's Day (a game during which, somewhat ironically, we opted to field Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda in tandem, and with devastating results) and ever since that victory, we've looked increasingly edgy at the Stadium of Light, with some nervy displays and less-than-impressive results.
Perhaps eager to use this game as a chance to experiment ahead of some tough tests to come, Régis Le Bris opted to change things up for the visit of Preston.
Isidor and Mayenda were both given the nod and Tommy Watson was brought into the starting eleven for Romaine Mundle, and although chances came and went (most notably for Isidor, who missed the target with a first half header that really should've been buried) the consensus was that it didn't really work.
For reasons that aren't entirely clear, Preston became the latest visitors to Wearside to whom we seemed to show too much respect and there's no doubt that we're encountering issues (largely of the psychological variety) when tackling sides in the lower reaches of the division.
There was no lack of effort from the Lads but it was either too rushed at times or simply too cautious at others, and when Emil Riis drove a shot into the bottom corner after being given too much time and space, things felt ominous.
Fortunately, the bench came up trumps and enabled us to get out of dodge with a point, but this was yet another frustrating display in front of our own fans and one that seemed to throw up plenty of questions.
Can Le Bris find the answers with a limited amount of games remaining?
Romaine Mundle has the final word…and how!
Although Tommy Watson looked lively on his first start since returning from injury, it was Sunderland's leading left winger who made the biggest impact last night.
Following a frankly disgraceful period during which Preston pushed their luck regarding time wasting and gamesmanship to the limit, Mundle seemed to say 'Screw this; this lot aren't beating us tonight', before cutting inside and curling a sumptuous effort beyond Freddie Woodman and into the top corner.
Had it been the winning goal, it would've sat alongside any scored by Wilson Isidor in terms of importance this season, but as it was, it merely ensured that our record of a single loss at home in the league was preserved.
Our hopes of a successful end to the season will be heavily reliant on the individual brilliance of such players, and it's reassuring to know that in Watson and Mundle, we've got two wide men who can contribute when the need arises.
A red and white stalwart is honoured by his home crowd
The news that Sunderland academy coach and former Lasses' boss Carlton Fairweather had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer was a real blow to the red and white community, but pre-match, it was tremendously heartening to see the Stadium of Light crowd uniting to pay tribute to a man whose service to the club spans two decades.
The players themselves paid their own tribute during the warm ups, and Carlton would've doubtless appreciated the affection he was shown by those he's served so loyally.
Stay strong, Carlton!
