Cats fans’ reaction to Pritchard and Dajaku's key instructions
Sunderland are back on the two points per game mark after a dominant 3-0 win at Doncaster – and Lee Johnson’s side couldn’thavewishedforamore comfortable afternoon.
The Black Cats were in control from the sixth minute when Ross Stewart converted an early penalty, while Elliot Embleton added a second before an own goal from Rovers defender Ben Blyte. It means Sunderland have taken 46 points from 23 league games, an average which should see thempromotediftheycanreplicatethosenumbersinthesecond half of the campaign.
The visitors were backed by another large away crowd as 4,072 visiting supporters made up the overall attendance of 10,751.
Those travelling Wearsiders had plenty to cheer about and gave the side a standing ovationatthefull-timewhistle.
Here are some of the moments you may have missed during a successful afternoon for the Black Cats:
Alex Pritchard chants:
After joining the club from Huddersfield in the summer, AlexPritchardenduredachallengingstarttohisSunderland career. The playmaker tested positiveforCovid-19shortlyafter his arrival and was playing catch up after missing most of pre-season.
Now, though, it feels like we are seeing the best of the 28-year-old,whoaddedanothertwoassiststohisnameatthe
Eco-Power Stadium.
Earlier in the season Pritchard struggled to hide his disappointmentwhenSunderlandwereinthemiddleofadifficultspell,yetheappearstobe enjoyinghisfootballagain.The attacker’s passionate celebration after assisting Embleton’s goal was evidence of that.
When Pritchard was substituted in the 74th minute, the Sunderland supporters
responded with chants of ‘D, D, D, D, D, Alex Pritchard.’ He is quickly becoming a fans’ favourite.
Leon Dajaku’s instructions: When the teams were announced it looked like Sunderland would once again be playing with a back three and wing-backs,similartoDoncaster’s setup.
Yet when the game kicked off,LeonDajaku’spositionwas key as the visitors pinned Roversbackandtookanearlylead.
Sunderland coach Jamie McAllister was telling the winger to push high up the pitch to pin back Doncaster wing-back Branden Horton. It soon became clear the visitors were playing with a back four as Bailey Wright took up the right-backrolebehindDajaku.
Doncaster were unable to cope with Sunderland’s shape, speed and intensity, so tried to match their opponents up by reverting to a 4-2-3-1 system.
The switch did little to change the flow of the match, though.
Denver Hume’s nearly moment: Sunderland almost wrappedupanexcellentafternoon with a goal for academy graduateDenverHume,yetthe linesman’s flag denied the visitors a fourth goal.
Hume replaced Pritchard with16minutesremainingbut was fractionally offside when heconvertedLeonDajaku’slow cross in front of the away fans.
This was Hume’s third appearancesincereturningfrom an ankle injury, while captain CorryEvansmadehisfirststart for over a month following a groin issue.
DennisCirkinalsofeatured for the first time since undergoing a double hernia operation as the full-back came off the bench to replace Evans in the 58th minute.