As Simon Moore stood strong in the absence of Antony Patterson, it was tempting to wonder if Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris had sold his soul to the devil.
Even an ill-timed injury to the Black Cats’ number one cannot knock Sunderland off course right now.
Anthony Patterson dropped out of the matchday squad for the first time during the Regis Le Bris tenure in the build up to Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Oxford United.
If there were any concerns that the loss of Patterson would half Sunderland’s momentum, however, they were emphatically dispelled by a calm, composed and confident performance by his 34-year-old understudy.
This was Simon Moore’s debut for the Wearside outfit. Only the veteran’s fourth league appearance since the start of 2024/25.
But while Moore was not overly tested by an Oxford side who barely laid a glove on the Championship’s heavyweight outfit – Jobe Bellingham and Wilson Isidor landing the knockout blows in a straightforward win – the home support could have been forgiven if Le Bris had the fortune of the gods on his side.
Everything – even an injury to Patterson – appears to be working in Sunderland’s favour these days.
Sunderland boss hails Simon Moore in Anthony Patterson’s absence
Oxford’s confidence would have been boosted by the lack of Patterson on Sunderland’s team sheet.
But Le Bris has cultivated a squad in which every single player – no matter how peripheral – can be expected to come in and perform, even at such short notice.
The former FC Lorient boss confirmed post-match that Patterson is unlikely to be out for long. He was also pleased to see veteran Moore stake his claim as Sunderland maintained the division’s best goal difference with a third clean sheet in five matches.
“We don’t know yet [what the situation is with Patterson]. But it shouldn’t be too serious,” Le Bris says. “But, as you saw today, Simon did well.
“The third game in six days is not easy. We had good control, especially in the first half. We could have scored one or two more then.
“[Sunderland] deserved the win.”
Le Bris also played down concerns over star striker Wilson Isidor.
The Zenit St Petersburg loanee maintained his flying Sunderland form with a stunning, over-the-shoulder volley to send the Black Cats five points clear of a Leeds United side who were held to a stalemate by Bristol City.
Isidor’s jubilant celebrations at the final whistle – he is hot-stepping his way towards fan favourite status already – hardly betrayed a man in too much pain.
Wilson Isidor thriving at Sunderland after Russia nightmare
Isidor limped off in the dying stages, replaced by youngster Tommy Watson.
His second stunning finish in the space of six days – Isidor ran 80 yards before clipping home a fabulous effort at Hull City last Sunday – surely takes Le Bris’ one-time Stade Rennais starlet one big step closer to a permanent move to Wearside.
“I know the man personally. We are constantly in touch. We communicate almost every day,” Dmitry Cheltsov, Russian agent and a close confidante of Isidor, told Championat a few days ago.
“Yes, the period at Zenit was bad. He scored few goals. But everyone knows that, and I am ready to kill myself for my players. And if someone does not understand this, then who cares!
“[I like to work with clubs] who work quickly and accurately. Zenit worked quickly with Isidor [agreeing his transfer to Sunderland. They responded to the player in two days.
“Other clubs can drag their feet for a long time.