Sunderland Pay For Glaring Issue In Lech Poznan Europa League Draw

Sunderland were held to a 1-1 draw against Lech Poznan in the Europa League on Thursday evening to continue their unbeaten start to the competition. 

Regis Le Bris made several changes to his starting XI from Sunderland’s deflating 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth on Sunday, with Luke O’Nien and Dayann Méthalie replacing Omar Alderete and Reinildo in defence, while Jules Ahoka was granted another European start in midfield and fit-again Habib Diarra returned to the line-up, with wingers Malick Fofana and Nilson Angulo returning from the bench. 

The Black Cats made the perfect start against the Polish champions, with early pressure seeing young forward Timur Tutierov head home the opening goal after just 78 seconds to net his first senior Sunderland goal. 

Following the opener, both Poznan and Sunderland had chances on goal, seeing Fofana hit the woodwork before setting up Granit Xhaka, but the Sunderland skipper’s strike was saved, with Robin Roefs called into action on several occasions with multiple double saves. 

Poznan equalised with 20 minutes to go as substitute Leo Bengtsson fired through a sea of Sunderland shirts to see the Polish champions finally get the better of Roefs to see Le Bris’ side settle for a point. 

For Le Bris’ side, it was a positive and much improved performance in Poland from the subpar performance at Bournemouth on Sunday, but there was a glaring issue within Sunderland’s play that must be remedied heading forward. 

Against Polish champions Poznan, Sunderland were made to pay for not killing the game and taking their ample chances, which came back to bite the Black Cats with Bengtsson’s 70th-minute equaliser. 

Overall, Sunderland enjoyed 57 percent possession and managed a total of 25 shots throughout the clash, with 11 of those on target at Poznan goalkeeper Mateusz Lis’ goal, seeing Le Bris’ side end the evening with a 2.97 xG (expected goals) tally despite scoring just once. 

Sunderland created several openings throughout the evening, seeing Ahoka, Angulo Nordi Mukiele, and Diarra all going close, with left-winger Fofana denied by the Poznan post his first Black Cats goal since arriving from Lyon for £30.8m on deadline day. 

Despite Poznan creating chances themselves with Roefs having to make five saves, it was clear that Sunderland were made to regret their lack of clinical edge in the final third. 

Academy graduate Tutierov once again gave his all leading the line for Sunderland in just his fourth senior appearance for the Black Cats, but it was clear to see that Le Bris’ side were missing the focal point of Brian Brobbey up-front. 

Le Bris explained before the Poznan clash that Brobbey was rested for the fixture to save the fit-again frontman for this weekend’s visit of Premier League rivals Leeds United, and hopefully the bullish number nine can provide that potency in attack that Sunderland are clearly craving. 

Sunderland still managed to secure a point against Poznan despite not finishing the Polish champions off when they had the chance, but Daniel Farke’s side with Dominic Calvert-Lewis leading the line will certainly have the clinicality to make the Black Cats pay on Sunday if they do not learn this crucial lesson.