Sunderland nicked a point in their home game against Bristol City on Tuesday night. But Regis Le Bris’ side now have just one win in their last eight.
Sunderland have certainly lost their way a bit in the Championship. But the Black Cats remain in 4th place of the table, and with several players to return from injury in the New Year as well.
On Tuesday night, it took until the 93rd minute for the Black Cats to score against Bristol City with Patrick Roberts netting an injury time equaliser for Regis Le Bris’ side.
Roberts has had his critics for Sunderland this season, as he did last season too, with his lack of goals and assists proving to be a talking point.
Against Bristol City, Roberts scored his second goal of the season. He’s also recorded four assists, having featured 19 times in the second tier this season.
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Michael Graham shares verdict on ‘frustrating’ Patrick Roberts at Sunderland
Roberts is often a talking point, and often a cause for frustration among Sunderland fans who’ve seen first hand in the past, just how good of a player he is on his day.
In his first season back in the Championship with Sunderland, Roberts scored five and assisted seven more in 44 league outings, proving to be one of the club’s best players that year.
Posting on X, Graham explained that Roberts is such a frustrating player because we know how good he truly is.
Graham wrote: “If Patrick Roberts wasn’t so talented and so good, he wouldn’t be so frustrating.
“An assist on a winning goal and scoring an injury time equaliser is a great way to respond to criticism he’s not productive enough, though. Got to give him credit for that.”
Roberts set up Tommy Watson for the winning goal in Sunderland’s 2-1 win against Stoke City last weekend.
Don Goodman defends Patrick Roberts at Sunderland, he’s proving him right
Speaking recently, former striker Don Goodman defended Roberts’ form for Sunderland in the Championship this season.
Goodman explained that; although Roberts hasn’t been scoring or assisting as many as he might have hoped, he’s still playing a key role in the team.
Goodman said: “Ultimately you can play well without the numbers suggesting that you’re playing well as a forward player and I think Patrick Roberts definitely has a part to play.”
Now after the Stoke and Bristol City games, Roberts has the joint-most goals and assists of any Sunderland player this season (six, tied with Romaine Mundle).
Roberts has certainly answered some of his critics in the past couple of outings. Now, it’s about finding consistency.