Southampton 4-2 Sunderland: Unlikely fightback goes to waste

It’s difficult to say what will have enraged Mike Dodds more, his team’s terrible performance in the first half against Southampton or the way they threw away their excellent work following the most unlikely comeback.

The Black Cats were behind 2-0 at the break, thanks to goals from Stuart Armstrong and an egregious penalty from Adam Armstrong. It appeared likely that the Saints would duplicate their season-opening 5-0 victory.

 

The powerful hosts had controlled the first forty-five minutes of play, and when Sunderland made their way down the tunnel at halftime, the loud jeers from the away end accompanied them.

The Wearside fans must have thought the worst during the second half, but instead of humiliation, they witnessed a fierce and unexpected comeback. Just after the hour, Romaine Mundle cut the lead in half, and Jobe Bellingham looped in a spectacular equalizer. At that point, Sunderland, who had played so poorly in the first half, appeared to have a better chance of winning.

Maybe their downfall was believing they could win the game. In the space of three minutes, Southampton substitute Joe Rothwell scored twice, wasting Sunderland’s diligent effort as they committed bodies and were exposed.

In what manner does Dodds attempt to identify the lessons from his team’s sixth

consecutive loss? Even though he was happy with the second half fightback, the

first half performance was unsatisfactory. At 2-2, were Sunderland

innocent? The fact that they had lost Dan Ballard due to an injury sustained just

before Bellingham’s equalizer did not help.

 

With nine games remaining in the season, Sunderland has to stem the rot

and bring some enthusiasm and momentum into what looks to be a

significant summer. Before the arduous trip to St Mary’s, realistically speaking,

hopes of finishing in the top six had vanished.

Dodds made three changes at St Mary’s, starting with a new-look attack of

Abdoullah Ba, Romaine Mundle and Mason Burstow.

 

Sunderland started brightly enough, with Burstow stealing the ball off home

captain Jack Stephens to create an opportunity for himself inside the first

couple of minutes. His finish lacked belief and the early sight of

Southampton’s goal was not a sign of things to come.

 

From that point onwards, it was largely one-way traffic and come the mid-point

of the first half Sunderland were fortunate they trailed by just a single

goal. The opener, from Sunderland’s perspective, was a shocker. They failed to

deal with a free-kick, Bellingham headed across his own goal and a queue of

Southampton players waited to apply the finishing touch. Patterson initially saved

well but Stuart Armstrong couldn’t miss the rebound.

 

Armstrong went close to adding his and Southampton’s second soon after when he dragged a shot wide and Adam

Armstrong fired over after the hosts pounced on a misplaced Anthony

Patterson cross. Sunderland were chasing shadows, their cause not helped

by the fact both central defenders were booked inside the opening half an hour.

 

There was, though, something to cling to after a rare attack very nearly led to an

equaliser. It was a fine move, with Bellingham lifting the ball into the path

of Hume on the right, who crossed for Burstow. The Chelsea’s loanee instinctive

finish beat Gavin Bazunu but bounced back off the inside of the post and

Southampton managed to scramble clear.

Any optimism was quickly dashed, as Southampton quickly took a two-goal lead. After his ill-advised tackle on Ryan Manning, Chris Rigg had no argument with the penalty’s award; nevertheless, Sunderland’s players thought they had a reason to protest when Adam Armstrong stumbled while taking the kick. The players from Sunderland objected, saying the striker had touched the ball twice, while the former Newcastle player celebrated in front of the visiting supporters. Stuart Attwell and his assistant had a talk after that, but the objective would remain the same.

 

As it happened, Sunderland was really pleased by 2-0 at halftime, with the visiting supporters loudly applauding the whistle, telling the players and Dodds exactly what they thought of the first forty-five minutes.

 

Additionally, the early The second half didn’t get any better at several points. Prior to a goal and some hope for Sunderland emerging out of nothing, Southampton appeared to be coasting to three points in first gear. Neil, the lone standout player for Sunderland until then, regained control on the edge of Southampton’s box, and Mundle thundered a shot that struck the post.

 

Southampton, which had appeared so confident and in control earlier, was uneasy. Prior to Nazariy Rusyn, a substitute, smashing a shot into the side net, Mundle had another close attempt.

Ballard’s forced exit due to injury provided a serious blow to Sunderland, but the Black Cats responded with a spectacular goal just sixty seconds later. Bellingham curled a ball into the upper corner from 25 yards out, giving Bazunu no chance.

 

Sunderland appeared to be the more likely winners at that point, but something unexpected happened. Armstrong opened up play for Southampton on the right, and after Hjelde stopped his cross, substitute Joe Rothwell—who had only been on the field for five minutes—hammered home the rebound. Three minutes later, the replacement scored his second goal to secure the victory for Southampton and Rothwell.