Sunderland earned a 2-1 comeback win against Norwich City on Saturday afternoon, marking a second comeback win in as many weekends for the Black Cats.
Sunderland are making a quite nice habit of coming from behind in games, and going on to win them.
The game before Norwich saw Sunderland come from behind to beat Swansea City. The Black Cats then went a goal behind after 21 minutes but completed their comeback by the 72nd minute.
Goals came from Dan Ballard and Jobe Bellingham who netted the winner against Swansea as well, with all of the Championship’s top four winning on Saturday.
The game against Norwich City was in poor conditions. It was very windy and Norwich City made things very difficult and frustrating at times for Regis Le Bris’ side.
But the win highlights Sunderland’s character, working hard and never giving up. Perhaps one player who summed that up on Saturday was Eliezer Mayenda.
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Gary Bennett suggests Eliezer Mayenda could play as Sunderland’s no.9
Mayenda has had a bit of breakthrough season this time round. The Spaniard scored his first Sunderland goals in the win over Sheffield Wednesday earlier in the campaign, having been involved in the Championship since.
Le Bris has been impressed with Mayenda in this unfamiliar left-wing position which he played in against Norwich City.
Mayenda worked tirelessly but lacked any kind of end product, often looking sloppy in possession.
Bennett though has suggested that Mayenda could be a good option to play as the no.9 with Wilson Isidor failing to find the back of the net of late.
Bennett said on BBC Radio Newcastle after the Norwich game: “You can’t just rely on Wilson Isidor. He had a great opportunity in the second half to score, and he’s put it over the bar.
“Mayenda, he showed some bright sparks today. And that’s going to be interesting, do you start with Mayenda as an out and out striker, rather than playing him wide on the left or right hand side?”
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Regis Le Bris’ previous Wilson Isidor comments, and the change he could now make
Interestingly, Isidor has often played as a left-sided attacker in his career, even doing so for Sunderland on occasion.
And speaking earlier in the season, Le Bris said Sunderland planned to play Isidor on the left rather than as a lone striker.
Le Bris said: “We thought, at the beginning, that [Isidor] could be a left winger. But it is clear now that he could be a good striker as well.”
With Isidor not firing right now, and not having a huge impact in games, it could be an idea to swap both Mayenda and Isidor’s positions on the pitch to see if it can bring a bit more out of both.
Sunderland play away at Blackburn Rovers on Boxing Day.