Sunderland lost 1-0 at home to Hull City in the Championship this evening.
Sunderland hosted Hull City at the Stadium of Light in tonight’s Championship clash, in what should’ve been an exciting encounter between two play-off chasing teams.
But it was far from that.
The first half was dogged and lacking in any real quality; Hull managed to break a Championship record for this season after picking up five yellow cards before the break, whilst Sunderland made the most attacking effort, but without really troubling Hull goalkeeper Ryan Allsop.
Jack Clarke was the main outlet for Sunderland but the 23-year-old failed to make a real impact in the first half, nor in the second.
The second half was equally lacking in quality, though the game was won by a half-moment of quality from Hull City’s Fabio Carvalho.
The man on loan from Liverpool saw a neat volley deflected past Anthony Patterson and whilst Sunderland looked slightly more dangerous after going behind, they never looked like equalising.
James Copley blasts ‘infuriating’ Sunderland
Midway through the second half, shortly after Carvalho’s goal went in, journalist James Copley blasted Sunderland and Michael Beale for their lack of urgency.
He highlighted the fact that it now takes Sunderland going a goal behind to really get going in games; something that Copley says was the same in the last defeat vs Ipswich Town.
Copley posted on X:
Michael Beale already up against it
‘Beale ball’ is not entertaining the fans right now.
In his initial Sunderland interviews, Beale spoke of an exciting, innovative style of play that he and obviously the board hope will eventually take the club to the next level.
But now after six games in charge, and seven points taken from a possible 18, the gamble on Beale already seems to be backfiring, and the 43-year-old looks as though he’s quickly becoming an unpopular appointment.
Like Copley alludes to, Sunderland have become very bland very quickly.
They lack any real urgency and when playing against a top six rival at home, they need to be much, much better.
It’s tough right now but it’s still early days. Sunderland still have some key injuries and some work left to do in the transfer market, so expect Beale to be given a fair bit of time yet.
After tonight’s defeat though, Beale seems to be up against it.
Up next for the Black Cats is another home game, with Stoke City visiting Wearside next weekend; the Potters recently hired Steven Schumacher as manager and have gone five games unbeaten under his watch, winning two.