Saturday, October 1, 2016

Sunderland 1-1 West Brom: Patrick van Aanholt cancels out Nacer Chadli's opener - 5 things we learned

Patrick van Aanholt rescued a point from a pitiful Sunderland performance.

The defender scrambled home a shot with seven minutes remaining after David Moyes' side looked to be heading for fourth consecutive home defeat.

West Brom new boy Nacer Chaldi had earlier opened the scoring in the 35th minute after Matt Phillips sent him in on goal.

And for much of the game Sunderland hardly mustered a challenge against the strong, organised and dominant visitors.

Nacer Chadi celebrates scoring the first goal
Nacer Chadi's 35th-minute strike looked likely to earn West Brom all three points

Tony Pulis will be furious his side threw it away after such a strong display.

Here are five things we learned from the match...

1. Late strike papers over the cracks

There have been a few pitiful performances in the 15 seasons I've watched North East football. There have been record losing streaks and record low Premier League points totals, along the way.

Patrick van Aanholt celebrates scoring with Jermain Defoe
Patrick van Aanholt, right, scored a late equaliser for the hosts

But the lack of heart and hope in this Sunderland show was right up there with the worst I've seen in recent seasons.

Moyes's side simply didn't have a clue. They didn't do the basics of competing with West Brom, who squeezed the early enthusiasm out of the home side.

The only saving grace was the looping shot that Van Aanholt netted during West Brom's only defensive lapse.

Even then they ended the game hanging on after West Brom stepped up a gear.

2. Will Sunderland's first __win of the league season ever arrive?

Sunderland have now gone 25 matches - spanning four years - without a Premier League victory in the months of August and September.

Wahbi Khazri reacts
Sunderland have drawn two and lost five of their opening matches of the league season

They have only averaged a point per game from their last 17 fixtures in October (W4, D5, L8).

They are winless in their opening seven games for the third season in the last four.

The stats are as miserable as the performances. Really, they had to __win this home game to be happy.

3. Nacer Chadli is a real asset for WBA

The midfielder couldn't get a game for Spurs and was sold to the Hawthorns in the summer.

Nacer Chadi celebrates scoring
Nacer Chadli has impressed for West Brom since his transfer from Spurs

Here, he showed what an important player he is for his new club. He was powerful on the ball, always available and opened the scoring.

Chadli strode forward and collected a lovely through ball from Matt Phillips on the left of the box, after Claudio Yacob was stronger than Jan Kirchoff in the tackle.

He out-paced Lamine Kone and with plenty still to do drove a super, low left-footed shot past Jordan Pickford.

That's three goals in four appearances. That's what £13million buys.

Nacer Chadli scores the first goal
The Belgian scored his third goal in four appearances against the Black Cats

4. Sunderland mustn't sack Moyes

Is David Moyes under-pressure already? Well, of course he is because the league table makes horrible reading.

However, there has to come a point at the Stadium of Light when they let a manager stay through the storm.

Moyes has inherited a shambles, and not had the time, or backing, in the summer to change his squad around.

David Moyes reacts
Moyes deserves time to get it right at the Stadium of Light

This season could end up a write off, with relegation looking, once again, likely rather than a possibility. Moyes should stay and sort the club out no matter what happens.

5. This fixture is usually a bore draw, but this was only mildly more interesting

For the last two seasons this game has finished 0-0.

Surely not again? Well, there were a couple of goals, but the match wasn't much of a competition thanks to Sunderland being inept.

Patrick van Aanholt score
This fixture isn't one that anybody should ever look forward to at the start of a season

West Brom were certainly not negative, and for 20 minutes Sunderland showed a willingness to get men forward and launch attacks.

Jermain Defoe should have scored early on, somehow missing from 12 yards out after Duncan Watmore's brilliant pass. Then their challenge petered out until a rare attack started and finished by Van Aanholt.