Sunderland lost 1-0 at home to Leicester City in the Championship on Tuesday night, with one man in particular having a poor game.
Sunderland have now lost their last five games in the Championship.
Interim boss Mike Dodds is having a tough time of it so far with three defeats from three since Sunderland sacked Michael Beale last month.
Last night’s game wasn’t a terrible performance from the Black Cats, who were arguably hard done by after seeing a penalty call waved away late on.
Chris Rigg was among those who had good games, though full-back Leo Hjelde failed to impress on the night.
Leo Hjelde ‘really struggled’ against Leicester City
Hjelde, 20, has started all seven games since arriving from Leeds United in the January transfer window.
And he impressed early doors, earning praise for some steady performances in games against Middlesbrough and Plymouth Argyle in particular.
But last night he certainly struggled; as per Sofascore, the Norwegian full-back gave the ball away 17 times which is more than any other Sunderland player on the night.
Sunderland Echo gave him a 4/10 rating on the night, with journalist Phil Smith adding:
“Really struggled defensively early on. Improved on that front but struggled with his crossing throughout – tough night.”
In the last two outings now, Hjelde has played on the left of a back-five, after initially playing on the left of a back-four.
Changes in shape not helping Hjelde or Sunderland
Dodds earned slight criticism last night for once again changing the shape and the set up.
Sunderland are now deploying a back-five, but last night’s game saw Jobe Bellingham playing out on the left with Hjelde in behind him.
And it simply didn’t work; this left side has been a bit of an issue of late with the Hjelde-Callum Styles link up also criticised in the game vs Swansea City last month.
Dodds seems to be trying to get all of his best player son the pitch at once.
But the Black Cats’ interim boss might be better leaving certain names on the bench so he can either call upon them when needed or unleash them later in games.
It’s a nice problem to have but a tricky one to manage, as Sunderland’s top players will obviously want as much game time as possible.
But right now there seems to be too much going on. Dodds might benefit from simplifying things a bit, and in Hjelde’s case, switching to a back-four and having him play as a somewhat old school full-back.
Up next for the Black Cats is a trip to Southampton in the Championship on Saturday.