Watmore’s back and Kone’s kept on bench – it’s a good day for Cats
Preston North End 2 Sunderland 2
GIVEN the 5-2 drubbing Sunderland took at Ipswich Town on Tuesday, there was a fair bit of trepidation about the thought of finishing the month with another trip to a promotion-chasing side.
Despite that, 2,929 supporters made the trip from Wearside, whether in expectation or just blind hope.
They were rewarded with Sunderland’s best performance of September, and therefore one of their finest under Simon Grayson – just not the three points which would have put a cherry on the top.
Despite a pretty boring opening quarter of an hour – just what the Wearsiders wanted as the away side – it turned out to be a pulsating game, and one with its fair share of talking points and even positives for the visiting side. So what did we actually learn from it?
Sunderland can at least go into the international break with smiles on their faces
OK, so the Black Cats managed to go Duncan Watmore back in action the whole of September without a victory, and end it in the Championship’s relegation zone, but the manner of their performance at Deepdale provided the sort of encouragement they desperately needed.
Simon Grayson’s Sunderland are better on the road than at home and the first half was textbook.
The opening quarter was kept as dull and uninspiring as the visitors’ new grey away kit before Sunderland took a grip on the game.
George Honeyman’s volley from an Aiden McGeady corner after 25 minutes was the game’s first effort of note, but Lynden Gooch quickly forced a save on the back of it before Honeyman drilled the ball in to put Sunderland ahead.
The second half exploded with three goals in five minutes, Preston taking the lead, then losing it.
At 2-2, the Black Cats looked much the more likely victors and although they were unable to achieve that, it was a heartening display.
Duncan Watmore forced his way into Sunderland’s first team largely on the back of under-23 performances at centre-forward but his senior football for the club has largely been on the wing, making use of his pace and willingness to carry the ball.
If first impressions are anything to go by, he might find himself doing a different job for Simon Grayson.
Watmore made his return from cruciate ligament damage as a 64th-min- Lynden Gooch goes down under the ute substitute and was instantly put down the middle. He was not quite a like-for-like replacement for Gooch playing further up the field than the American while James Vaughan dropped off, as he tended to do alongside Grabban.
Watmore’s pace frightened the Lilywhites from the start, with Chris Maxwell rushing out of his goal to bring him down by the touchline, and handling the ball into the bargain. Ridiculously, the only person booked was John O’Shea, for dissent.
Watmore was never quite able to