Injuries, shape and Willis - the moments you missed
Sunderland sent their 2,731 travelling fans into raptures afterwinningadramaticCarabao Cup tie at QPR – while the game at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium wasn’t short of talking points.
The match finished goalless after 90 minutes, while Rangers substitute Charlie Austin saw a goal wrongfully ruledoutforoffsidenineminutes from time.
Sunderland got away with thatone,butshowedresolveto winthesubsequentshoot-out – with Aiden McGeady, Ross StewartandAlexPritchardall scoring from the spot.
Black Cats goalkeeper Lee BurgesavedAustin’spenaltyat the start of the shoot-out, and the result was sealed when Rangers defender Yoann Barbetsenthiseffortoverthebar.
Here are some of the moments you may have missed…
Injury scares
After Devner Hume was forced off with an injury after just 24 minutes, Lee Johnson usedtherestofhissubstitutes in the second half.
Bothteamswereallowedto make five changes, which was a good job for the Black Cats as Leon Dajaku also appeared to pick up a knock.
Johnson had used all of his available changes by the 69th minute, so it was a concern when Luke O’Nien went down and looked in pain with five minutes remaining.
Thankfully the midfielder was able to continue, yet
there was another anxious moment when Ross Stewart hitthedeckandwasclutching his ribs.
Johnson admitted after the win that a couple of playershavepickedupminorinjuriesaheadofchallengingaway gamesatRotherhamandSheffield Wednesday. Hopefully they aren’t too serious.
A change of shape
While injury concerns keep cropping up, one area where Sunderland do appear a little light is in central midfield.
Despite that, Johnson elected to name O’Nien, Dan Neil and Corry Evans in his starting XI, which meant a slight change of shape.
Evansnaturallysatinfront of the back four in a No 6 position, with O’Nien and Neil given licence to get further forward and press the opposition in No 8 roles.
Upfront, Stewart didn’t receive many goalscoring opportunities against Rangers’ three-man defence but did an admirable job for the team.
At times the Scot drifted out to the left as Dajaku coveredspaceinthemiddleofthe pitch. It was a system which gave Sunderland extra stability away from home against Championship opposition.
Jordan Willis involved again
It’s been a rough year for Sunderland defender Jordan Willis, who suffered a ruptured patella tendon at Shrewsbury Town in February. The defender remains a long way off returning to action after enduring a failed operation.
Willis’ second op went much smoother, though, and Johnsonsaidlastweekthedefender will now be involved in tacticalanalysis,includingdiscussions both pre- and postmatch.
That was the case at QPR, where Willis made the trip to West London and could be seen chatting and joking with his team-mates before and after the game.
Thedefendercertainlyappeared in good spirits. Hopefullyhisrecoverycontinuesto progress.