What were the positives and negatives from Sunderland's draw with Blackburn?

Yesterday at 01:00 AM

Goals from Chris Rigg and Wilson Isidor looked to have given us the win at Ewood Park, but a late equaliser saw Rovers nab a point. What did our writers make of the game?

Calum Mills says…

Dan Neil delivers again

Another man of the match performance from Neil.

Even in the first half when we were awful for the most part, he wanted to drive us up the field. Some well-timed tackles, and the way he finds space to get away from his man is brilliant to watch.

His second half display was superb.

Wilson Isidor hits the goal trail

He needed that goal.

He's huffed and puffed in recent weeks, with little service coming his way, but that deft flick showed how clinical he can be.

A quiet first half but his second half display was much improved. His link up play was good and he could've picked up an assist too had there been a little less venom on Jobe's shot after a brilliant cutback.

Another slow start

Blackburn gave us the runaround for the first fifteen minutes and could easily have been 3-0 up if not for poor finishing and timely defending.

Are the lads on the bench not trusted?

Not wanting to sound like a broken record, but again, it's the lack of substitutes for me.

Eliezer Mayenda should absolutely be burying that chance right at the end but he didn't even pull the trigger. Do I think Aaron Connolly or Nazariy Rusyn with fresh legs buries that chance? Yes.

I've said for weeks that Chris Rigg has looked tired.

Yes, he can still produce at the opportune moment, but from around the 65th minute he again looked out on his feet before he got injured. I really do hope it's not as bad as it looked at the time.

Two big games in four days, following three games in the space of eleven days. We have a squad of thirty players but we only seem to be using half of that.

John Wilson says

Dan Neil's performance

Imperious.

Sunderland respond again

Whilst one of my negatives was going a goal behind and starting slowly, one of my positives is the way we can fight back.

Despite a late goal by Blackburn (which to be honest, I felt was coming) we nevertheless don't panic when going behind and have the resilience to still have belief.

Such a shame we didn't hold on for another perfect comeback, or for Eliezer Mayenda to stay composed at the end.

Another slow start

Something isn't quite right when we go behind quite early.

One of the positives about Régis Le Bris' appointment was his sports psychology doctorate, yet he's been unable to address our sluggish starts and our habit of allowing the opposition to take command.

One thing I've noticed is how passing of the ball along the back line has returned with a vengeance.

Early on in the season, this had been cut out as we used penetrative passes to move the ball quickly to the final third, but ponderous sideways passing has reared its ugly head again.

I inwardly groan whenever a defender puts his foot on the ball, and no attacker is going to make a run when he sees a defender with his foot on the ball.

Too much backtracking

When an opposing attacker is running towards our defence with the ball, why do our defenders run backwards, getting closer and closer to our box and goal?

I understand 'not diving in' but a challenge has got to be made sometimes, so why not earlier rather than later, so if the tackle is unsuccessful, there's still time to rectify the situation?

It's very frustrating watching our defence retreating and retreating, allowing the attackers to get closer to our goal line.

Malc Dugdale says…

A point on the road

I would've taken a point before the game, although I wanted the win, and especially given we got a point after going 1-0 down and struggling to half time with that deficit.

Let's not forget those factors - an away point is a decent result.

Wilson Isidor back on the scoresheet

Even the neutrals at my gaff watching Isidor's finish were impressed and it's great to have him back on the scoresheet.

That was a tough game against a decent side who had a go, and we got something. We also kept them from catching us up in the league, so well done lads.

Chris Rigg's injury

It was sad to see Rigg score and then have to go off with a sore leg.

Hopefully nothing severe but we'll miss him a lot. It's a chance for others to shine but we could do without it.

Two points dropped

We scored a scrambled goal and a beauty, whilst Blackburn scored two rough ones and we should've taken three points on reflection.

I was gutted for the travelling hordes and the Lads, but that's seven points out of the last nine, and we can get back on it very soon.

It was always a big challenge and we came out of it with honours even, so not bad for Boxing Day.