Tony Mowbray rules out tactical change to cover centre-back suspensions
Tony Mowbray has ruled out any major tactical changes to cover for the absences of Luke O’Nien and Dan Ballard against Birmingham, but he has said there will need to be some ‘tweaks.’
O’Nien and Ballard have formed a reliable central defensive partnership this season, but both picked up a fifth yellow card in the goalless draw with Swansea last week.
That means both will serve a one-match suspension this week, meaning one of the summer defensive recruits will get a chance to shine instead.
That recruit looks like it will almost certainly be Jenson Seelt rather than Nectarios Triantis, but Mowbray appears to have ruled out switching to a back three for the game.
"I think one of them [Triantis or Seelt] has to come and play in the team," Mowbray said. "There's no two ways around that unless we want to change the whole formation and the way we play, which is something we have discussed and there are going to be some slight tweaks.
"We've had a few days to work with the team and tell them what their responsibilities are when the ball is in certain positions. I have every confidence that we will go out there and we will flow.
"I think the way we play, on my board and on the training ground, it looks fine to me. There's enough experience there, there's enough nous, there's enough mobility.”
Despite appearing open to considering Triantis, Mowbray then seemed to drop a first hint that it would be Seelt to get the nod. However, who partners the former PSV man in defence remains to be seen.
"I'm hoping Jenson will be OK. He's going to be nervous, as I always say when somebody potentially makes their debut, you have to make it easy for them, you have to feel for your teammate and make that job comfortable.
"I think the players around him are experienced enough and will do that, so we don't even notice him and we get a clean sheet and we win the game and everybody is happy."
Sunderland defensive options
With Mowbray seemingly ruling out partnering Triantis with Seelt against Birmingham, and in the continued absence of Aji Alese, it appears that he will be looking instead to move a fullback inside.
That would leave two real contenders: Trai Hume and Dennis Cirkin
Trai Hume
Is Trai Hume suited to central defence?
IMAGO
Hume was forced to play centre back at the end of last season due to injuries, and he certainly let no one down. His natural aggression served him well and although he was not a towering presence in the air, he competed enough to make it difficult for the opposition.
The other thing that Hume could do would be to take O’Nien’s role of front-foot defending, trying to get ahead of attackers to pinch the ball and then stepping forward into midfield.
There is an obvious drawback too, of course, in that Hume rotating into central midfield from right-back when Sunderland have possession is a key part of the Black Cats’ play, and it is hard to see anyone else doing it.
Dennis Cirkin
Dennis Cirkin another Sunderland central defensive option
IMAGO
The other option is Dennis Cirkin, who is only just back from injury himself. It seems clear that he will return to the starting line-up regardless, but it’s less obvious which position he will play.
For many, the easiest solution would be Niall Huggins to right-back, Cirkin to left-back and Hume shifting into the centre.
However, Mowbray may choose to keep his fullbacks the same as the last few weeks and using Cirkin as the left-sided centre-back.
That would certainly cause the least disruption to the team from a tactical point of view and Cirkin has played in the centre before.
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