Abdoullah Ba 'found it difficult' in central position, admits Michael Beale

Sunderland made a tactical tweak around Abdoullah Ba against Plymouth, and while Michael Beale still backs the theory behind it, he thinks the player struggled.

Michael Beale said switching Abdoullah Ba to a central position against Plymouth was a tactical decision to free up Jack Clarke, but he felt the French youngster struggled.

Ba is just starting to mature into a force for Sunderland, although more of his best performances this season have come on the right wing.

He prefers playing centrally though, and with Patrick Roberts back Beale decided to play Ba in a number 10 position with the idea he would help overload the left-hand side and prevent Plymouth from double-marking Clarke.

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It didn’t really work until the second half, but Beale believes the theory was sound.

"I thought Abdoullah found it difficult in the first half,” Beale said. “We moved him slightly wider in the second and then ultimately Jobe came on and scored from that position.

“The idea in principle was right to overload that side, and I think they are going to have find a way to play together if they're going to play.

“They've got to learn that they're stronger together and play in combinations, I think if you're a right-sided defender and you have to come up against Jack and Abdoullah, it becomes very difficult to double up on Jack."

One thing that was certainly striking about the game against Plymouth was the amount of quality in depth Sunderland suddenly had for the wide positions.

As well as Clarke, there was also an in-form Ba, a fit-again Patrick Roberts, and new signing Romaine Mundle.

Beale says he will need all of them this week too with Sunderland facing two away games in four days.

"We're looking at different options all the time,” he said “They all want to be in the team so we have to find the balance, and I'm really pleased with Romaine who has shown that he has got a part to play.

“It's really good to have Paddy back. We of course have to manage his minutes in the next two games because we don't want a relapse of his injury. Abdoullah could easily go back to the right tomorrow night, for example."

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