AliousOne Sunderland player fell far below his usual standards in the draw against Plymouth Argyle, and the reason is now glaringly obvious.
The Black Cats stumbled to a disappointing 2-2 result at the Stadium of Light against Miran Muslic’s struggling Plymouth side, who sit bottom of the Championship table. The performance was marred by defensive lapses from Chris Mepham and goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, but another issue loomed large: the lack of spark from Wilson Isidor in the final third.
Having been in fine form in recent weeks, Isidor was unusually subdued against Plymouth, and the reason for his quiet display is clear—he thrives when paired with Eliezer Mayenda.
### Wilson Isidor Relies on Eliezer Mayenda Partnership
Sunderland’s starting XI raised eyebrows when it was announced, with Salis Abdul Samed surprisingly getting a start and Mayenda absent from the lineup. This was particularly puzzling given Mayenda’s decisive role in the previous 1-0 win against Derby County, where he scored the only goal.
Without Mayenda to link up with, Isidor struggled to find his rhythm and was largely ineffective up top. The duo has consistently performed well together, with their partnership proving vital to Sunderland’s success. Le Bris’ decision to leave Mayenda out and switch to a more defensive setup against one of the league’s worst defensive teams was a puzzling move.
### Le Bris Must Return to Basics
While Le Bris deserves credit for transforming Sunderland’s fortunes this season, his decision to tinker with the lineup against Plymouth backfired. The 4-4-2 formation that pairs Isidor and Mayenda has been a proven success, particularly against weaker opponents, allowing both strikers to thrive.
Le Bris justified the changes as a way to manage fitness levels and provide game time for players like Samed. However, disrupting the key partnership between Isidor and Mayenda in a game Sunderland should have won comfortably proved to be a costly misstep.
If Sunderland are to mount a serious promotion push, Le Bris must avoid overcomplicating his approach and stick to what works, especially against weaker sides. The Mayenda-Isidor duo is a proven weapon, and sidelining it again could come at a greater cost in the future.
Alious
