Talking Points: Derby dispatched as Jobe and Isidor deliver for Sunderland!

Given the short turnaround after Saturday’s trip to Watford and Friday’s visit of Leeds United, Régis Le Bris’ decision to field an unchanged starting eleven certainly raised eyebrows.

The Frenchman has been the epitome of composure ever since he arrived on Wearside, and his decision to maintain some continuity of selection eventually paid dividends, as after some scrappy exchanges in the first half, the Lads were able to unlock a lively and game Derby side, whose willingness to knock the ball around and give us a puzzle to solve was admirable, and there’s no doubt that they’ll survive with room to spare this season.

We do have the depth to rotate in key positions, but the retention of Dan Neil was a particularly admirable statement from the Frenchman, as he gave the captain a chance to atone for his costly error at Vicarage Road, and Neil’s performance on the night was gritty, committed, and generally solid.

Three games in six days is a heavy workload for the players, and let’s hope they’ve still got some juice in the tank for Friday night, but for the head coach, this was a successful night’s work and proof of the growing faith he’s showing in his young squad.

Sunderland AFC v Derby County FC - Sky Bet Championship

Jobe delivers a pearler

His overall performance on Tuesday night was excellent, full of hustle and hustle, and when the ball broke to Jobe just outside the Derby eighteen yard box, you got a sense that the young midfielder thought, ‘Why not?’ as he found himself in a pocket of space with what felt like an outside chance of testing Jacob Widell Zetterström.

Driving forward, he took a couple of touches and unleashed a thunderous strike that flew into the top corner of the visitors’ goal, opening the scoring and easing any frustration that might’ve been growing after we’d failed to make the breakthrough earlier in the half.

From my vantage point, I was fortunate enough to be right in line with the strike as it left his boot, and as the pundits like to say, ‘no goalkeeper in the world was saving that’.

As the game unfolded, you got a sense that it was always going to be a moment of quality from a Sunderland player that made the difference, and Jobe opening his account for the season in such spectacular fashion was pretty much perfect.

A superb goal from a player who’s clearly enjoying his football under Le Bris, and another sterling evening’s work from one of the jewels in the Sunderland crown.

Wilson Isidor’s stock continues to rise

Two goals in two games for the Frenchman who’s rapidly finding his way into the affections of the Sunderland faithful, and if he keeps this up, the clarion calls for his loan move to be made permanent next summer will continue to grow.

His goal was a classic striker’s finish as he stole in at the near post to slide the ball home from Romaine Mundle’s pass, but his all-round play was of an impressively high standard, with his movement and awareness regularly catching the eye.

On a side note, Mundle excelled once again, with his pace, close control and elusiveness often proving too hot for Derby to handle.

Isidor looks like an exceptionally shrewd addition to the red and white ranks.

His enthusiasm is infectious, he seems to be relishing the opportunity to lead the Sunderland line, and you can bet that his experience and confidence are having an impact on Eliezer Mayenda, who ought to be watching and learning from his on-loan teammate as he continues to learn his trade as a Championship-calibre forward.

The Stadium of Strobe Lights… yay or nay?

As someone who can now call himself an old git with an ever-growing sense of conviction (I’m 35 in two weeks) the notion of a pre-match light show intrigued me, because I’ve long believed that atmospheres at the Stadium of Light can’t be forced and that the prospect of good football, a sense of genuine progress, and positive results are what generates a buzz come kick off.

As it was, it was certainly quite the spectacle, with the foghorn blaring, the strobes flashing at a rate that would’ve given Hawkwind’s lighting man something to think about, and what can only be described as the most beefed up version of ‘Wise Men Say, Only Fools Rush In’ I’ve ever heard blaring out of the speaker system.

As something to build anticipation ahead of these evening kick offs, it’s probably not the worst idea in the world, and nobody could deny that it looked and sounded pretty spectacular to those of us inside the stadium.

Quite how fans of other clubs perceive it remains to be seen, but in the modern game, the ‘stadium experience’ is all part of the deal nowadays, and fortunately, the Lads delivered a victory that meant the pre-game razzle dazzle was worth it.

Just another quiet night at our home stadium!