VIDEO: Why Sunderland striker debate should be over and Leo Hjede debut analysis

Should the Sunderland striker debate now be over? How did Leo Hjelde do on his debut? How did Michael Beale rescue a point against Middlesbrough?

Sunderland took a trip to the Riverside to take on a faltering Michael Carrick Middlesbrough team whilst looking to avoid a fourth defeat in five games.

Middlesbrough were behind Sunderland in the six-game and ten-game form tables and misfiring, but no team under-performs against their xG like Boro, and Sunderland fans were hoping that wouldn’t change today.

The Black Cats, who handed a debut to new signing Leo Hjelde, started the stronger, making a series of incisive breaks without really forcing a save out of reserve keeper Tom Glover in the first half hour. 

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Jack Clarke Clarke was instrumental as usual, but the recently impressive Abdoullah Ba spurned two point blank chances to open the scoring. 

One of Sunderland’s problems recently has been a plummeting number of shots on target and far fewer clear cut sights of goal, and it has been a case of lots of endeavour and not much product. 

The Middlesbrough game seemed to suggest a conclusion in Michael Beale’s never ending striker rotation, though. 

Mason Burstow left the field after an hour without a single shot on goal and replacing him was Nazariy Rusyn, who looked altogether the better option and saved Beale’s blushes. 

The video below makes some analysis of why this should now be a settled question for Sunderland.

And at the other end, despite statistics yet to yield results, Beale does have Sunderland looking more solid. 

Middlesbrough never really looked like scoring despite having several chances in each half when they came close to springing the back line. The goal, when it came, was from a fortunate deflection, although Marcus Forss put the chance away excellently. 

Michael Beale immediately rang the changes, substituting the wasteful Ba and poor Burstow for Patrick Roberts and Nazariy Rusyn. 

That galvanised Sunderland with energy, and it was Rusyn who shortly after walloped Sunderland back into the game. Momentum shifted as Sunderland looked for a winner but the game ended in a draw.

So click on the video below to see just why the striker debate should now be settled, how new signing Leo Hjelde did on his debut, and just how Michael Beale rescued a point against the Boro. 

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