Sunderland Ace Jocelin Ta Bi Makes Major Case With Standout Display Vs Brentford

Sunderland youngster Jocelin Ta Bi announced himself in red-and-white with his stunning performance and hat-trick of assists in the Carabao Cup win over Brentford, making a case for a consistent run in Regis Le Bris' side as a result.

Sunderland beat Brentford 3-2 on Wednesday evening, with the Black Cats 3-0 up after 39 minutes, with young attacking trio Chemsdine Talbi, Timur Tutierov and Malick Fofana all netting within the space of 12 minutes to make the advantage too difficult for the Bees to come back from.

Crucially, however, it was Ta Bi who created all three of Sunderland's goals against Keith Andrews' side, in an exciting performance worthy of his man-of-the-match award.

Ta Bi arrived at the Stadium of Light from five-time Israeli champions Maccabi Netanya in January, and had made just four appearances under Le Bris before the Brentford clash, but there should certainly be more opportunities for the Ivorian starlet in the coming weeks after his terrific and timely performance.

In a game in which several Black Cats, including Fofana, Talbi, Tutierov and Ahoka, enjoyed impressive displays, 21-year-old Ta Bi was the jewel in Le Bris' crown on Wednesday evening and has certainly put himself in contention for a continued run on the right flank of Sunderland's attack in the coming weeks.

For the opener, Ta Bi almost opened his Sunderland account with a deft finish after being slipped through on a devastating transition by Ahoka, but his effort came off Brentford goalkeeper Hákon Rafn Valdimarsson's post and fell kindly for Talbi to tap home.

Moments later, Ta Bi was at the epicentre of Sunderland's rejuvinated attack yet again, with his technical prowess beating Brentford's £40m summer signing El Hadji Malick Diouf with ease, showing clinical edge with an inch-perfect square pass into the path of Tutierov who calmly doubled the Black Cats' advantage. 

Later in the half, the winger created his third goal of the evening with a delightfully weighted deep cross towards the Bees' backpost, which was headed home bravely by Fofana to put an insurmountable distance between the Black Cats and Brentford.

Throughout the evening, Ta Bi created the most chances (three) of any player on the field, enjoyed a 100 percent crossing accuracy, and an 80 percent passing accuracy to set the tone for Sunderland's attack, whilst also showing stellar defensive work ethic with multiple contributions.

Ta Bi was fouled six times throughout the evening, giving Michael Kayode one of the most difficult evenings of his impressive Brentford career.

Beyond the statistics, the eye test showed how much potential the Ivorian international has at his disposal, and what an exciting player that the Black Cats hierarchy have on their hands, who has finally made his breakout performance after nine months on Wearside.

More poignantly, however, is the timing of Ta Bi's standout performance in the right wing role given the current context of Sunderland's season and Le Bris' squad.

In the summer transfer window, the club failed to sign a marquee left-footed right-winger, but recently Sunderland's links with Sporting CP star Geny Catamo have resurfaced ahead of the mid-season window, with the Black Cats crying out for goals, chance creation and attacking output in this crucial position.

Enter, Ta Bi. Potentially. 

Clearly, the onus is now on the young Ivorian to continue performances in the vein of his stunning display against Brentford when given the chance, but his dazzling display has placed positive pressure on Sunderland boss Le Bris to alter his selection process.

Many Sunderland supporters agree that Le Bris need a right-winger with the profile of the 21-year-old talent, and his game-winning performance against the Bees could not have been a more timely, exciting, and telling audition for the right flank role in the Black Cats' starting XI heading forward.

Has Ta Bi just proven he could be the answer to Le Bris' problems on the right side of attack?

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