Sunderland stats: Youngster's superb 92% pass success rate; rare Train Hume off-day

What did the stats tell us about how the Sunderland players performed in the 1-1 draw with Bristol City?

Michael Graham | Feb 19, 2023

Sunderland stats: Youngster's superb 92% pass success rate; rare Train Hume off-day /

Sunderland were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw against Bristol City at the Stadium of Light, although the point was enough to keep them in the play-off spots.

You could also say that the very fact that a draw against one of the most in-form teams in the Championship is a real mark of progress too given a year-ago Sunderland were losing 2-1 to MK Dons in League One.

You'd have to concede that a draw was probably the fairest result, but what did the stats tell us about the players' performances on the day?

Rare Hume off-day

Since Trai Hume got his chance in the Sunderland side, he really has spilt us with his performances.

The northern Irishman has been dominant down his side every week and mastered every challenge. That wasn’t the case against Bristol City, though.

Hume was well short of his best and that’s okay. He has more than earned a bad day at the office and, if anything, it was a useful reminder that he is still a young player who is developing, albeit an incredibly good one.

He gave away the penalty at the end, although he was second best all afternoon really. Unusually, Hume lost the majority of his ground duels (55%) and aerial duels too (62%). He was dribbled past four times during the game too and just struggle generally.

Dominated down the flanks

Hume was not alone in his struggles, though, and we may have to give Bristol City a lot of credit for that. They had a lot of penetration on both flanks, not just Hume’s.

The Bristol City right didn’t see as much of the ball as their left did, but Aji Alese was dominated just as much as Hume was, proportionally at least.

He faced half the ground and aerial duels that Hume did, but his statistics were just as poor.

The former West Ham defender won just 40% of his ground duels and 25% of aerial ones. Again, just like Hume, we can certainly allow him an off-day.

Michut showing his magic

When Edouard Michut was signed on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, there was no doubt that his pedigree was genuinely exciting.

He was a teenager who had already played for one of the biggest clubs in the world alongside players such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

He definitely took a while to get going, which was probably expected, even without the niggling injuries that beset him.

He is now quite firmly established in the Sunderland midfield, though, and that pedigree we knew was there is starting to shine through.

He was a exceptional against Bristol City, especially in the first half, both with and without the ball.

Michut completed a very impressive 92% of his 36 passes and his long passing (6/7) was especially impressive.

Without the ball his was good too. He was dribbled past three times, but he still won eight of his 11 ground duels and recovered the ball on seven occasions.

It was a bit of a surprise when he was substituted just past the hour, although Tony Mowbray obviously wanted to get Luke O’Nien on to try to protect the lead that Jack Clarke had quite brilliant given Sunderland.

Amad and Roberts lacking usual spark

It is just as well that Clarke produced some magic on the day, because the usually trusted combination of Patrick Roberts and Amad Diallo lacked their usual spark.

That certainly wasn’t for the want of trying. They attempted 12 dribbles between them, although only four were successful.

Again, they definitely earned an off-day, and there was unquestionably some fatigue in their performances. Hopefully they will be back to something a lot closer to their brilliant best at Rotherham.

Rare Hume off-day

Dominated down the flanks

Michut showing his magic

Amad and Roberts lacking usual spark

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