Sunderland were awarded a late penalty against Millwall on Saturday which was wasted after debate between the players on who was to take it.
Sunderland defeated Millwall 1-0 on Saturday as Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats returned to league action following the international break.
A wonderfully-worked corner-kick routine whipped in from Patrick Roberts, was met with a lovely volley from full-back Trai Hume to open the scoring 20 minutes in.
Sunderland lacked the killer edge to double their tally, but equally, Alex Neil’s Millwall failed to test Anthony Patterson.
With minutes to go before the 90-mark, Sunderland winger Romain Mundle left Lions defender Japhet Tanganga for dead with great skill, and his trailing leg brought down Mundle to earn his side a spot-kick.
However, the ensuing penalty-kick drama failed to shine a positive light on three Sunderland players, particularly the wideman who won it.
Sunderland ace Romain Mundle shows poor attitude against Millwall
Mundle’s dazzling footwork did earn Sunderland the penalty kick, but his immediate reaction afterwards was a concerning sight.
Winger Mundle was adamant he wanted to take the spot-kick, with designated penalty duty up in the air for Sunderland with Wilson Isidor having previously missed two penalties in the same game at Burnley.
The 12-goal Frenchman was visibly emotional after the draw, as Isidor said it was ‘the worst day of his life’, and didn’t take the chance to step up and redeem himself from the spot on Saturday.
Rather than listen to his skipper Dan Neil who attempted to calm matters, or support Luke O’Nien as he stepped up to the spot, Mundle proceeded to display an immature and disruptive reaction to not being allowed to take the penalty he won.
O’Nien’s feeble effort was saved with ease by Lions goalkeeper Lukas Jensen as Mundle was substituted off the field moments later by Le Bris. Sunderland boss Le Bris said post-match, via the Sunderland Echo of the decision: “It was decided before the game but yes, he was a bit emotional but it’s not a problem, we’ll talk about it later.”
Although O’Nien is not a recognised penalty taker, the centre-back has scored taken six penalties previously in cup competition shoot-outs with a 100% conversion rate. With Isidor’s spot-kick confidence in tatters after the Clarets incident, on paper Mundle’s application to take the penalty made sense.
However, his attitude in the aftermath was unquestionably poor and was an uncharacteristic cause for concern in this Sunderland side. One Sunderland supporter posted on social media: “Have no issue with him wanting to take it but there’s a time and a place and a level of professionalism expected. Can’t imagine his teammates, nor the manager will be best pleased.”
Sunderland must sort out new penalty taker before play-offs
Sunderland’s record from the penalty spot this season makes for worrying reading.
The Black Cats have now taken five penalties in the Championship this season, converting only one, thanks to Patrick Roberts’ spot-kick goal against Plymouth back in September. Roberts retained penalty duty until his miss away at Sheffield United after which Isidor took charge.
| Penalty taker | Penalty record for Sunderland this season |
| Patrick Roberts | 1 scored out of 2 taken |
| Wilson Isidor | 0 scored out of 2 taken |
| Luke O’Nien | 0 scored out of 1 taken |
Isidor infamously missed two penalties in the closing stages at Turf Moor thanks to two immense saves from James Trafford. After O’Nien’s lacklustre spot-kick at Millwall today, the identity of the next Sunderland penalty-taker remains unclear.
However, with Sunderland’s play-off fate seeming inevitable and the potential for their season to be defined from the spot at Wembley come the end of the campaign, where the stakes would be far more decisive than Saturday afternoon’s affair.
Le Bris must decide the designated future penalty taker, and fast. One who looks like scoring would be a bonus.