Stuck in the Middlesbrough with few goals

Middlesbrough were behind Sunderland in the 6 game and 10 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. 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, it has been a case of lots of endeavour and not much product. Today seemed to suggest a conclusion in Michael Beale’s never ending striker rotation. 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. Today Middlesbrough never really looked like scoring despite having several chances in each half where they came close to springing the back line. The goal when it came was from a fortunate deflection, although 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. This galvanised Sunderland with energy and it was Rusyn who shortly later 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.