One Sunderland star has been handed the highest of praise following the 3-2 win vs Swansea City.
Sunderland now find themselves in 3rd in the Championship table after they saw off Luke Williams’ Swansea City away from home.
The Black Cats’ second half performance saw the midfield take the game by the scruff of the neck, with Jobe Bellingham showing his incredible talents by bagging the winning goal for Sunderland. The entire side in fact turned a corner in the second stanza, with Regis Le Bris putting it down to a shift in character and aggressiveness after the interval.
Whilst the 3-2 win showed the qualities of every single player, one EFL expert was left with ‘so much respect’ for one, and that was Sunderland captain Dan Neil following his performance.
EFL expert praises Dan Neil for Sunderland showing against Swansea City
Neil bagged the goal that got Sunderland back onto level terms at the Swansea.com Stadium, and it was a sweet strike from outside of the box that embodied the ambition of the Black Cats performance to get them back into the game.
Whilst the Sunderland captain hasn’t been one of the most consistent performers in Le Bris’ side, he has shown to be crucial in recent weeks for his character, especially with him being at such a young age.
EFL expert Gab Sutton suggested that Neil was integral to the win, where he said, via X: “So much respect for Dan Neil.
“I don’t think he’d have chosen the playing role he’s been given as a #6, and being a captain at 23 is a huge responsibility.
“His selflessness & attitude has made this season possible.”
Dan Neil deserves much more respect for taking on responsibility at his age
When it comes to criticising Neil and his performances, some fans don’t remember the sheer responsibility that he has accepted this season as being captain at such a young age, and like Sutton says, that has to be remembered.
Neil is certainly a key player in the side to thank for helping on getting the mentality fixed in the side, especially considering how much of a concern it was in the back end of the 2023/24 Championship campaign.
The 3-2 win just embodied the transition that this current Sunderland side have undergone for the better, ad Neil has without a doubt played a key role in ensuring that s translated across, with Luke O’Nien also helping of course as the club captain.