Regis Le Bris' Baffling Sunderland Decisions Lead To Dinamo Zagreb Defeat

Sunderland suffered their first defeat of the Europa League campaign against Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday evening, with Regis Le Bris’ bizarre substitutions partly to blame for the loss. 

Sunderland fell to a 2-0 defeat against Dinamo Zagreb courtesy of first half goals from Luka Stojkovic and Dion Beljo, but it was the Black Cats who dug their own graves yet again this season with self-destructive defending. 

For the opener, the Dinamo man was left unfathomably unmarked at the back post from a corner and fired past the rooted Robin Roefs as a result, with Kevin Danso’s poor clearance leading to Zagreb’s second. 

The Black Cats continue to look unlike the resolute defensive side that enjoyed such a remarkable campaign last season, and the pressuring spotlight continues to shine on Le Bris as Sunderland’s form keeps free falling. 

Although the subpar, shocking Sunderland players need to shoulder their share of the blame for their current plight, several of Le Bris’ decisions against Dinamo made no sense and directly contributed to the deflating defeat. 

Sunderland’s impending issues were clear to see before a ball was touched on the Stadium of Light turf, with Kevin Danso and Omar Alderete lining up together as the central defensive partnership. 

Danso and Alderete last partnered at centre-back in the 2-0 Premier League defeat at Bournemouth last month, with the pair at fault for the opening goal, the Spurs loanee dismissed after just 16 minutes, and the Paraguayan suspended in the top flight after his petulant double yellow at Coventry. 

Therefore, it was a recipe for disaster for Le Bris to employ the duo yet again, and both experienced defenders were equally shocking against Zagreb, and their partnership simply does not function and cannot be employed anymore by the Sunderland boss. 

Although changes were needed at half-time as the Black Cats went into the interval 2-0 down and rightfully booed by the home supporters, Le Bris’ substitutions at the interval continued Sunderland’s self-destruction. 

Young midfielder Jules Ahoka, who has incredibly exciting for Sunderland against Brentford in the Carabao Cup win last week, was withdrawn at the interval against Zagreb despite being one of the few above-average performers in the first half.

Additionally, pacey full-back Dayann Methalie was also hooked by Le Bris in place of Reinildo, a far more defensive-minded and experienced full-back in comparison to the French youth international. 

Particularly with the switch of marauding Methalie for Reinildo, it begs the question why Le Bris would sacrifice a more attacking option on the left flank for a naturally better defender who offers less in the final third, when two goals behind and desperately needing the youngster’s pace to help penetrate the defiant Dinamo defence. 

Also, when chasing the game, why not introduce Chemsdine Talbi into the game as a substitute for his first Europa League outing for Sunderland after he replaced injured Habib Diarra in the squad, given that his pace and attacking intent could have provided a potential infusion of hope for a comeback.

Sunderland's current run of form, with just two wins in their last ten in all competitions, is worrying enough, but the catalogue of self-inflicted errors that Le Bris is persistently making looks like a head coach unescapably caught in the headlights.

Red flags are flying at Sunderland right now, and not in celebration but sorrow, and things must change, or Le Bris' reign as Black Cats boss could soon come to a saddening end.

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