AliousA Sunderland journalist has pinpointed a critical mistake by manager Regis Le Bris that contributed to the team’s 1-0 loss to Stoke City.
In a frustrating outing for the Black Cats, Tom Cannon’s lone goal for the Potters secured all three points, leaving Sunderland unable to convert a host of opportunities and slipping further behind the Championship’s top three. Despite a bright performance from Adil Aouchiche, the game saw heavy criticism directed at Eliezer Mayenda, who squandered a golden chance with a free header just six yards out.
Following the defeat, attention has turned to a recurring issue under Le Bris: his reluctance to make impactful substitutions. Michael Graham highlighted this flaw on X, stating:
“An incredibly frustrating one, but can’t complain. Miss your chances, don’t moan when you lose. We need to have a look at the correlation between lack of subs and the number of late goals. Always a lot of tired legs out there. Know number of injuries don’t help either.”
Sunderland’s late-game struggles aren’t new, as seen in previous defeats like the one against Millwall. The pattern continued against Stoke, with tired legs and a failure to utilize bench options, including Leo Hjelde and promising youngsters Harrison Jones and Trey Ogunsuyi, proving costly.
### Le Bris’ Achilles Heel
While Sunderland’s improvement under Le Bris this season is undeniable—especially compared to their 16th-place finish in the 2023/24 Championship—the manager’s hesitancy to rotate his squad has become a glaring weakness. The team’s lack of squad depth is a factor, but Graham argues that Le Bris must make better use of the resources available, particularly as it continues to hinder results.
Looking ahead, the January transfer window offers an opportunity for Sunderland to address these squad deficiencies. However, once reinforcements arrive, Le Bris will have fewer excuses for failing to make tactical adjustments during games. Against Stoke City, his reluctance to trust his bench proved to be a costly mistake, and it’s an error he must learn from if Sunderland are to climb the table and contend for promotion.
Alious
