Alious**Luke O’Nien Reflects on Sunderland’s Frustrating Draw with Watford, Highlights Key First-Half Struggles**
Sunderland captain Luke O’Nien has shared his candid thoughts following the Black Cats’ underwhelming 2-2 draw against an out-of-form Watford side over the weekend. Despite managing to salvage a late point, the result felt more like two points dropped, with O’Nien pointing to specific tactical issues that hindered the team’s performance.
### **Sunderland’s Missed Opportunity at the Stadium of Light**
In front of a home crowd at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland once again struggled to assert dominance, allowing Watford—managed by Tom Cleverley—to leave with a share of the spoils. Regis Le Bris’ tactical approach drew criticism as he opted for a conservative setup, deploying Salis Abdul Samed as an additional central midfielder. This left Wilson Isidor isolated up front as the lone striker, limiting Sunderland’s attacking threat.
The Black Cats found themselves on the brink of defeat until Dennis Cirkin scored a dramatic late equalizer to rescue a point. However, the general consensus was that Sunderland should have done more against a struggling Watford team.
### **O’Nien Pinpoints Tactical Shortcomings**
Speaking after the match, O’Nien was forthright about where things went wrong. According to the Sunderland Echo, he admitted that the team’s pressing strategy was ineffective, particularly in the first half.
*”This season we’re building, getting better, and moving forward. We always look to win—we set up to win, not just to avoid losing,”* O’Nien explained. *”We didn’t quite get the press right in the first half, but there are valuable lessons to take from the game.”*
He emphasized the importance of learning from these experiences, especially when it comes to applying more pressure on the opposition: *”Every game is a new test, and you have to earn every single point. We nearly snatched the win towards the end, but it wasn’t quite enough. The positive is that we approach every match with the belief that we can win.”*
### **Tactical Rethink Needed for Le Bris**
This latest draw marks Sunderland’s second consecutive 2-2 stalemate at home, following a similar result against Plymouth Argyle. In both matches, Sunderland appeared tactically rigid and struggled to control large spells of the game. These performances suggest that Le Bris’ current approach, particularly at home, isn’t yielding the desired results.
The overreliance on defensive-minded midfielders like Salis Abdul Samed has contributed to the team’s lack of attacking fluidity. While Samed’s ability to break up play and provide defensive cover is valuable, his deep-lying role often slows down Sunderland’s transition into attack—an issue that’s been evident in matches against teams like Plymouth and Watford, where a more aggressive approach was needed.
Interestingly, the introduction of Eliezer Mayenda against Watford provided a noticeable shift in momentum. His energy and direct style immediately put the visitors under pressure, suggesting that Sunderland might benefit from deploying more attacking options from the start rather than relying on late substitutions to spark a response.
### **What’s Next for Sunderland?**
As Sunderland continues to push for promotion, Regis Le Bris faces growing pressure to adapt his tactics, especially in home fixtures where the expectation to dominate is higher. The Black Cats must find a way to strike the right balance between defensive solidity and attacking threat if they hope to convert these frustrating draws into crucial victories.
O’Nien’s honest assessment highlights a team aware of its shortcomings but determined to improve. Whether Le Bris can adjust his strategy accordingly will be key to Sunderland’s success in the weeks ahead.
Alious
