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“I don’t think it’s harsh”- Sky Sports pundit reacts to Trai Hume’s ‘harsh’ red card decision in Sunderland’s defeat to Bristol City
Sunderland Fall to 2-1 Defeat at Bristol City After Early Red Card Drama
Sunderland were reduced to ten men in the opening minutes at Ashton Gate as Trai Hume received a straight red card in their 2-1 loss to Bristol City on Good Friday—a crucial clash between two Championship play-off hopefuls.
Liam Manning’s Bristol City side were in dire need of points to solidify their play-off hopes, while Sunderland had already secured their top-six finish following a draw at Norwich the previous week.
Just minutes into the match, referee Oliver Langford dismissed Hume after a challenge on Nahki Wells, who was breaking toward goal. Although Wells appeared to be through, there was still notable distance between him and Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson. The decision drew criticism from Sunderland fans and was echoed by Sky Sports pundit Gareth Evans, who called the red card “harsh.”
Despite being a man down, Sunderland took the lead through a brilliant solo effort from Eliezer Mayenda shortly after the 30-minute mark. However, the numerical disadvantage proved too much as Bristol City responded with second-half goals from Rob Dickie and Ross McCrorie to complete the comeback.
Controversial Red Card Draws Pundit Backing
Speaking during Sky Sports’ broadcast, Gareth Evans questioned the decision to send off Hume: “It’s a strange passage of play—just a long ball forward that bounces through to Wells. Was there malicious intent? Not really. Hume just gets in the way. By the letter of the law, maybe it’s a red, but it’s incredibly unfortunate.”
Hume’s predicament began when teammate Luke O’Nien was caught too tight to Wells, allowing the Bristol striker space behind the defence. Hume raced to recover but was deemed to have denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
Evans added: “It looked like a coming together. Hume even had his arms up, trying to avoid contact. Wells was heading wide—not directly toward goal. It’s debatable whether his next touch would have brought it back between the posts.”
As a result of the red card, Hume will miss Sunderland’s Easter Monday clash with Blackburn Rovers. Alan Browne is expected to fill in at full-back.
Worrying Signs Ahead of Play-Offs
While Hume’s dismissal certainly impacted Sunderland’s performance, their overall display raised concerns. The Black Cats, having already secured a play-off spot, looked content to sit back and defend. In contrast, Bristol City showed urgency and hunger, dominating possession with 77%, registering seven shots on target, and missing two clear chances to extend their lead.
If the season ended today, Sunderland and Bristol City would meet again in the play-off semi-finals. Should that happen, Le Bris’ side will need a significant improvement to advance, especially after being outplayed so thoroughly.
With the regular season winding down, Sunderland fans are hoping to see more fight and sharper performances to carry into what could be a challenging play-off run.
