Sunderland experienced their first league defeat under Regis Le Bris on Saturday, marking a surprising turn of events.
Heading into the weekend, Sunderland was one of the Championship’s most favored teams, holding a perfect record. They traveled to Devon to face Plymouth Argyle, who were struggling at 22nd in the table and winless up to that point.
Despite Sunderland’s strong start, Plymouth overcame them 3-2, coming from behind after Patrick Roberts’ opener. Plymouth regained the lead following Romaine Mundle’s equalizer and benefitted from a Dan Ballard own goal, alongside several individual errors.
Although some fans have voiced criticism of a few players, overall feedback remains relatively positive given Sunderland’s impressive start to the 2024/25 season.
Anthony Patterson, Sunderland’s first-choice goalkeeper, has faced scrutiny before, particularly regarding his distribution. This was evident against Plymouth when he made a critical error by handing the ball straight to a Plymouth player, leading to a quick shot on goal.
Marco Gabbiadini, a former Sunderland striker and BBC pundit, remarked on Total Sport: “The goalkeeper needs to be scrutinized. He made a poor clearance, throwing the ball right back to the opposition, which quickly resulted in a shot.”
Patterson may soon face competition for his starting role from Matty Young, currently on loan at Salford City. Young could potentially become Sunderland’s backup or even challenge Patterson’s spot if Premier League interest in Patterson continues.
Patterson remains a reliable goalkeeper but must address his distribution issues to maintain his position and potential Premier League aspirations. Regis Le Bris will be looking for improved performances as Sunderland prepares to face Middlesbrough this weekend.
