Alious
Sunderland continued their perfect start to 2025 with a crucial 1-0 victory over Portsmouth at the Stadium of Light, maintaining their impressive unbeaten home record this season. The win narrows the gap at the Championship summit to just three points.
Manager Regis Le Bris’s bold tactical decision to pair strikers Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda proved instrumental in securing the three points. Isidor, who netted the decisive goal, earned particular recognition from both managers after the match.
Portsmouth boss John Mousinho was effusive in his praise, acknowledging Isidor as one of the Championship’s premier forwards. “We conceded possession carelessly from our throw-in, and Isidor, who’s among the division’s best center-forwards, punished us with his clever movement and clinical finishing,” Mousinho remarked.
Le Bris echoed these sentiments, expressing satisfaction with Isidor’s unexpected impact: “His talent was never in doubt, but he’s exceeded expectations through his exceptional work ethic and team-first mentality. We’ve discussed striker confidence extensively, and maintaining this high level is crucial.”
The French forward has experienced a remarkable turnaround in form. After enduring a seven-game goalless drought that prompted fans to call for reinforcements in January, Isidor has now found the net three times in his last four appearances. His performances have sparked enthusiastic calls from supporters for his loan deal to be made permanent.
Despite Isidor’s impressive form, Sunderland’s promotion aspirations may still require additional attacking reinforcements. While the ‘dangerous’ Frenchman has proven his worth, the challenging Championship campaign demands greater depth in the forward line to sustain their promotion push.
Alious
