Sunderland will be disappointed not to get more from the game against Millwall this weekend, but one player made quite the impact.
In an unusual game disrupted by an emergency in the stands, Sunderland could only manage to come away from The Den with a point.
The Black Cats had taken the lead early on thanks to Aaron Connolly’s first goal for the club. The match was then halted just before half-time as officials suspended play for half an hour.
Upon the resumption, Sunderland held their nerve right to the dying moments, but Regis Le Bris saw his side pegged back by an injury-time equaliser.
It’s a point that keeps Sunderland at the top of the Championship table, with Sheffield United also dropping points away at Coventry earlier in the day.
Eliezer Mayenda shines against Millwall
While Le Bris will likely be disappointed not to have picked up a win on his trip to London, the Sunderland manager did get to see one player really step up and show that he can be a useful player this season.
Eliezer Mayenda put in a strong performance down the right wing against Millwall, and has been earning plaudits from the local press in the North East.
Phil Smith at the Sunderland Echo gave Mayenda a rating of seven out of ten for his display, writing: “Was a real threat throughout the game driving in from the right and maybe should have scored early in the second half. A definite option for Le Bris in this position while Poveda is absent, did well.”
Mayenda made three key passes in his 90 minutes, was accurate with 85% of his passes, and was successful with 50% of his dribbles.
| Statistic | Eliezer Mayenda vs Millwall |
|---|---|
| Touches | 31 |
| Passing accuracy | 85% |
| Key passes | 3 |
| Shots on target | 1 |
| Successful dribbles | 2 |
| Possession lost | 8 |
However, the 19-year-old will be disappointed with the fact he didn’t deliver a single cross all game, and that will definitely be an area for him to work on moving forward.
Regis Le Bris has to give Eliezer Mayenda more minutes
It is rather surprising that the young Spaniard has not been used more by Le Bris this season, but that will surely change now.
Mayenda has two goals and two assists in eight games this term, but all of those returns came in the first six games. He was then left out of Le Bris’ matchday squad for the next six games.
Getting the full 90 against Millwall will have done Mayenda’s confidence a world of good, and he’s now made a real case to keep starting for the Black Cats.
One of the main conclusions from the Sunderland vs Millwall game is that Mayenda can be a more than fitting replacement for the injured Ian Poveda from here on out, and could give the Colombian a real battle for that starting spot out on the wing.