Individual talent may win you one-off games but, if Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland are to conquer the Championship, then it will be the Black Cats’ squad which takes them there.
The question of whether Sunderland’s roster really is strong enough to keep the pace during a gruelling 46 game season, however, only time will tell.
Regis Le Bris rotated his trusty frontline against Preston North End in midweek. In the absence of Patrick Roberts and Romaine Mundle, and with striker Wilson Isidor shifting wide to acomodate Aaron Connolly, Sunderland drew a blank at Deepdale.
Fortunately, while a new-look front-three of Connolly, Isidor and Tommy Watson struggled to create much in the way of goalscoring opportunities, it was another of Sunderland’s back-ups who kept their unbeaten run going beyond a seventh match at the other end of the pitch.
Le Bris was delighted with the way Simon Moore stepped in for Anthony Patterson after the Black Cats’ number one was ruled out ahead of the 2-0 win over Oxford United a fortnight ago.
And, with Patterson missing out once again as a now-managerless Coventry City travel to Wearside, the onus will be on the veteran goalkeeper to ensure that Sunderland end the weekend top of the table and with a tenth clean sheet of 2024/25 under their belt.
Regis Le Bris lauds importance of Sunderland’s Simon Moore
“He did well [stepping in for Patterson]. He did very well. I am very pleased for Simon,” Le Bris says during his Friday press conference.
“He is a good professional, a very good professional. His attitude is perfect. And because he is training so well every day, when the opportunities come he is ready.
“It is good for him and good for the team as well.”
Sunderland needed Moore to roll back the years at Preston, the 34-year-old clawing away an Emil Riis effort bound for the top corner. He is yet to concede a single goal in nearly 300 minutes of Championship football between the sticks under Le Bris.
The expectation is however that, no matter what happens against Moore’s old employers Coventry, Patterson will be straight back into the XI once he’s at full fitness again.
“Anthony won’t be available [this weekend],” Le Bris adds. “We hope he will be back for Millwall because he will have [had] two weeks to recover.”
Simon Moore pays Anthony Patterson tribute
While Kristjaan Speakman remains committed to Sunderland’s youth-orientated transfer policy, the league-leaders did add some useful experience to their ranks over the summer.
A boyish Black Cats squad given that little bit of big brotherly guidance by the nous of Alan Browne and the well-travelled Moore.
“It does feel really good [to be playing and performing],” Moore said in midweek. “Off the pitch it has been a difficult couple of years. I think the Oxford game was my first league game in two years so there were quite a lot of nerves before that, but the lads in front of me have been brilliant.
“It really does help when you’ve got a really good group. You’ve got lads like Luke [O’Nien, club captain] and Chris [Rigg]. Not just top players but top people as well.
“I knew coming here I was going to be number two to help Patto, and I hope he’s back fit as soon as possible. He’s been number one at this club for a reason. He’s a top, top class goalkeeper. I’ve just had to wait for my opportunity and it’s gone really well, but I do hope Patto is back soon.
“To be fair I miss him out on the training ground, we have a good laugh! He is a top keeper and we are going to need him between now and the end of the season.”