Hungry – this is to those before
Welcome to the Championship. The players are cheaper, the crowds smaller, the manager less of a “name” and even the pitch is tighter.
Given that you could see the old markings, it was probably a late decision to pull the pitch in on all four sides – about two yards narrower and four shorter.
It suggests a more direct style from Grayson’s team. In every respect the Championship is a different beast to what Sunderland have grown accustomed to over the past 10 years but Grayson knows it better than most, and will not be afraid to change accordingly. Whatever happens, this will not be a season of a relegated club arrogantly trying to play the way they used to in the top-flight.
4. GRABBAN IS A BETTER PENALTYTAKER THAN JAMES VAUGHAN
Vaughan failed to convert two penalties in pre-season, the second of them after losing an argument with Grabban over who should take it. As soon as he did, all debate over who would take the next one was instantly resolved.
Both Vaughan’s spot kicks had been saved rather than missed, each lacking power.
Trevor Carson guessed the right way from Grabban’s kick and almost got his hand to it but it was struck with such confident power that it always looked destined for the net. Grabban got his debut goal – a big deal for any centre-forward.
5. AND VAUGHAN NEEDS A GOAL
The flip side Grabban’s joy Vaughan’s despair.
Ninety minutes is far too early to be rushing to conclusions, but Vaughan looks like a man who needs a goal. He played six matches in pre-season – one of them against Sunderland for Bury – without finding the net. When you wear the No.9 shirt for any team, you need to get of was off the mark sooner rather than later and this was the second match at the Stadium of Light where the former Everton man did not look like he was going to find the net. As in all the warm-up games, he worked hard, but it was a difficult night. He had a shot blocked 10 minutes before half-time after one of a number of Cattermole bursts from midfield but you could tell which was his best chance after holding his head in hands when he volleyed a 50th-minute opportunity wide. There is a nasty streak in Vaughan, shown by the clattering tackle on Richard Keogh which earned him an 89th-minute booking. The next game is at Vaughan’s old club Bury and he good do with playing – and scoring.