AliousAnthony Patterson has once again found himself under scrutiny following Sunderland’s disappointing Championship defeat to Hull City. Unfortunately for the 24-year-old goalkeeper, it’s not for the right reasons.
A product of Sunderland’s academy, Patterson has already amassed 153 appearances for the club, including 121 in the Championship. However, he has endured a difficult spell recently, with his confidence seemingly shaken. Against Hull, Patterson misjudged a corner, resulting in an own goal that condemned the Black Cats to their first home league defeat of the season.
Unsurprisingly, frustrated Sunderland fans took to social media to voice their concerns, with many questioning his recent performances. Some are even calling for backup goalkeeper Simon Moore to be given a chance in the starting lineup. Whether head coach Regis Le Bris will consider that switch remains to be seen, but what may concern him more is the revelation that Hull City manager Ruben Selles deliberately targeted Patterson’s weakness during Saturday’s clash.
### How Hull City Exposed Patterson’s Weakness
Selles, who has now won five of his 15 games in charge of Hull, saw his side climb to 20th in the table after the crucial victory. Sunderland, meanwhile, remain in fourth place despite the setback.
After the match, Selles revealed that Hull had a clear tactical plan: to put Patterson under intense pressure inside his six-yard box, particularly from in-swinging corners. It’s an aspect of Patterson’s game that Sunderland supporters have frequently criticized in recent weeks, with the goalkeeper often appearing hesitant when dealing with high balls.
“We were clear today,” Selles said. “We wanted to put pressure in the small box around the goalkeeper with inswing deliveries. I think that’s what we did. The first one went in. It’s always difficult to score directly from those situations, but if executed properly, you can create deflections. We worked on those corners throughout the week.”
### Could Simon Moore Replace Patterson?
Sunderland’s summer signing Simon Moore has played four league games this season, impressively keeping three clean sheets. His last appearance came in November’s 2-2 draw against Coventry City, after which Le Bris praised his professionalism and readiness.
“He did well. He did very well,” Le Bris said at the time. “I am very pleased for Simon. He is a good professional, a very good professional. His attitude is perfect. And because he trains so well every day, when opportunities come, he is ready.”
Le Bris is clearly aware of Moore’s capabilities, but dropping Patterson would be a major decision. It could also impact the young goalkeeper’s confidence and, potentially, his future transfer value.
However, costly mistakes—like the one against Hull—are becoming more frequent. If Patterson continues to struggle, Le Bris may have no choice but to consider a change in the coming weeks.
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