SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 1: Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sunderland AFC and Derby County FC at Stadium of Light on October 1, 2024 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
Sunderland’s double injury concern and Jobe problem after interesting announcement – moments missed
Sunderland took on Leeds United at Elland Road in the Championship on Monday night with plenty of talking points emerging before, during and after the game.
Here, we take a look at the most interesting moments you may have missed as Sunderland faced Leeds United at Elland Road on Monday night in the Championship:
Late refereeing change ahead of Sunderland’s game with Leeds United
Before the game against Leeds United on Monday, the Sunderland fixture was subject to a late officiating change as Stuart Attwell replaced Craig Pawson as match referee.
South Yorkshire-based Pawson was initially scheduled to officiate the game. However, the official, who predominantly referees Premier League matches, was taken off the fixture and replaced by Attwell. There were unconfirmed reports on social media before the game that Atwell had been taken off the game as he may be a supporter of Chris Wilder’s Blades.
Though the referee’s allegiances are not public knowledge, the move could be interpreted as a measure to avoid any potential conflict of interest and subsequent social media storm given Pawson’s Sheffield base. Though it must be stressed that it is not known whether or not that was the reason behind PGMOL’s final decision.
Sunderland’s announcement before the Leeds United game
Just hours ahead of the game against Leeds United, Sunderland confirmed the appointment of former Carlisle United goalkeeping coach Tom Weal on a short-term deal until the end of the campaign.
The move will see Alessandro Barcherini take on a more wide-ranging role within the coaching staff following Mike Dodds’s departure to take up the post as head coach of Wycombe Wanderers. The move likely completes Sunderland’s senior coaching staff for the rest of the campaign, when the subject could be revisited.
Barcherini has for a long time taken on added responsibilities with analysis and set pieces, and the new structure will extend that role further. Sunderland’s head of coaching Stuart English said Weal would bring ideas to goalkeeper coaching across the club.
Weal has previously worked at MK Dons and Notts County before making the switch to Carlisle, and began his coaching career at Norwich City. He worked with current first-choice goalkeeper Anthony Patterson during his time on loan at the club while they were in the National League.
Trai Hume and Enzo Le Fee’s early injury worry
There was concern for Sunderland full-back Trai Hume during the opening stages of the game against Leeds United at Elland Road in the Championship.
With just eight minutes on the clock, the Northern Ireland international went down holding his foot and Sunderland had to kick the ball out so the right-back could be treated. Replays showed that Hume had kicked his own player Luke O’Nien. Hume was down for a minute or so before recovering to play the rest of the game.
Sunderland were once again concerned in the first half after Brenden Aaronson’s tackle on AS Roma loanee Enzo Le Fee. It wasn’t a bad tackle by the American but Le Fee’s foot seemed to get caught under up and replays showed the Frenchman’s ankle bending awkwardly. Le Fee was down for around a minute before managing to play the whole game for Sunderland.
Sunderland’s suspension worry after Leeds United
Jobe Bellingham picked up his ninth yellow card of the season when he fouled Jobe Bellingham in the second half of Sunderland’s defeat, which means he is now just one further booking away from a two-match suspension.
