Ahead of Sunderland’s trip to Preston North End on Wednesday night, Paul Heckingbottom was keen to shine a light on the good work of Black Cats boss Regis Le Bris.
Few would have imagined, when Sunderland sold star man and top scorer Jack Clarke to Ipswich Town over the summer, that the Wearsiders would be sitting pretty at the top of the Championship table by the start of November.
So, after winning nine of their 13 matches, it’s fair to say Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has been justified in bringing Le Bris to Sunderland; the chairman highlighting his fellow Frenchman’s excellent communication skills and his outstanding attention to detail.
Le Bris has not only helped the Black Cats move on from Clarke – the form of Romaine Mundle helping to offset his £15 million departure – he also has created a tactical set-up far more sustainable than in previous seasons.
While Sunderland were hitherto reliant on Clarke’s game-breaking talents, Le Bris’ Sunderland are a team capable of opening up their opposition from almost any position on the pitch.
Paul Heckingbottom hails Regis Le Bris’ impact at Sunderland
“They won’t change, in terms of how they’ve been preparing and performing,” Heckingbottom said in conversation with BBC Radio Lancashire. “There are one or two subtle things they do differently, based on how the opposition set up, which we will be prepared for.
“In terms of their style and how they approach the game, they are a team who like to attack. [Le Bris’ Sunderland] have a lot of the ball, rotations when they attack and the full-backs join in. Wingers are high and wide.
“Then, they have got a good, youthful energy when they try and defend as well.
“So yeah, there is a reason why they are up there and they’re not going to change too much. We are looking forward to what’s going to be a really good game.”
Sunderland’s post-Clarke succession planning has been made a whole lot easier by the performances of Mundle in the left-wing position the former talisman has now made his own. Mundle scored a stunning winner as Sunderland defeated Luton Town at Kenilworth Road recently.
His fourth of the season and the sort of finish Clarke would have been proud of.
Romaine Mundle has stepped up in Jack Clarke’s absence
“Mundle has done well, yeah. He has still had big moments attacking wise,” adds the former Barnsley, Leeds and Sheffield United boss. “Listen, they were reliant on Jack Clarke – he did fantastic for them in terms of goals, assists and threats.
“But I think there is a bit more balance to them [now], certainly without the ball. I think there is a real good balance to their team, with threats off both sides.
“It is not as if they are over-reliant on one player, which would mean the opposition sets up to deal with one threat. Their better balance without the ball has been shown in the goals against as well, so that’s why they are up there on merit, scoring lots of goals and keeping lots of clean sheets.
“And a real clear way they want to play.”
While Sunderland can move four points clear of Sheffield United with a win, Preston need a result themselves in order to keep themselves out of the relegation zone.
Le Bris has also confirmed that Alan Browne will start in place of the suspended Jobe Bellingham. And Heckingbottom is looking forward to welcoming a Preston favourite back to Deepdale in Sunderland colours.