Sunderland fans will go home delighted after taking all three points in the Tees-Wear derby, and Don Goodman has heralded one player for making the game a pleasure to watch.
Regis Le Bris’ team managed something that hasn’t been done in 20 years by defeating Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
A 3-2 win was just reward for Sunderland who, after a slow start, dominated the game and piled the pressure on their bitter rivals.
Goals from Dan Neil, Wilson Isidor, and a Ryan Giles own goal sealed the win for Sunderland, but one player stood head and shoulders above the rest on the night.
- READ MORE: ‘Ha’way The Lads’… Wilson Isidor sends heartfelt message to Sunderland fans, he feels at ‘home’
Enzo Le Fee is a joy to watch for Sunderland
Yes, we’re talking about Enzo Le Fee, of course. The Frenchman delivered two fantastic assists to help his new team grab the all-important win away from home, and truly took his game to ‘another level’ against Middlesbrough.
Discussing the midfielder during Sky Sports’ coverage of the game, the commentary team celebrated Le Fee, stating: “One player has shone like a beacon this evening.”
Former Sunderland man, Don Goodman, on co-commentary, added: “I’ve just loved watching him… fearless, wonderful technical ability, and more importantly, impacted the game with what he’s been doing.”
Le Fee was rightly awarded the man of the match award for his performance, and he was also the highest-rated player as per SofaScore’s data.
| Statistics | Enzo Le Fee vs Middlesbrough |
|---|---|
| Touches | 60 |
| Pass success | 92% |
| Dribble success | 66% |
| Duels won | 60% |
| Big chances created | 1 |
| Player rating | 8.4 |
The playmaker, celebrating his 25th birthday on the night, racked up a whopping 60 touches, with a 92% pass success rate, including three key passes.
He was also fairly successful when it came to duels, something he is not necessarily known for, and put in two tackles and two interceptions, too.
Sunderland are very lucky to have Enzo Le Fee
Since his arrival on Wearside, Sunderland fans have hyped Enzo Le Fee, and rightly so. It was a massive coup for the club to bring in such a player, and his performances have lived up to that hype.
While we don’t know what Le Fee’s future will hold, one thing’s for sure, Sunderland have to keep hold of him if they can.
Getting promoted would secure that deal as part of the loan-to-buy arrangement with Roma. Luckily, having Le Fee in the team gives the Black Cats a brilliant chance of sneaking into the top two and getting promotion come the end of the season.
It’s unfathomable that this is how Le Fee can perform without full match sharpness, out of position, and still within his first month of being in English football.