RECAP: Sunderland beat Burnley 3-0 to extend unbeaten home run | OneFootball

📝 22:37

Regis Le Bris: “important to show our way”

Also speaking to Sky Sports, Sunderland manager Régis Le Bris said: “Today it was important to react, to show, at least, our way of playing: with intensity, bravery, the ability to press high and create changes. This answer is really important, because in the Premier League it is not easy to win games.”

What a season he and his side are having.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 Full time 22:31

Scott Parker’s team was “childish”

Speaking to Sky Sports, Burnley manager Scott Parker said: “I think the riding factor is that we were nowhere near it. When you come to a difficult place, difficult stadium, we fell way short of the core hard basics. I thought we looked at times a childish team that never really had any intent about us whatsoever, in every phase of our game.”

On resisting to take the performance personally: “It’s everything that I stand for, and if there’s one thing I try and ingrain in them it’s that fight.

“We need to reboot, and go over this game. I can stand here in front of a camera and I can say we’ve missed points in the fine margins, but the facts are we sit where we sit for a reason.”

A sobering outlook on the game from the English manager, who is staring a third Premier League relegation in the face.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 Full time 22:25

Kyle Walker: “sometimes football matches aren’t won on hunger”

Speaking to Sky Sports after full-time, Walker said: “Terrible. We’ve come here to get something from the game, and we’ve got nothing. As a club that’s fighting for survival, to put in that sort of performance is not acceptable.

On whether Burnley were daunted by Sunderland’s home form: “It’s 22 men on a football pitch, and it’s who wants it more. They wanted it more than us.”

“I’d say the hunger’s there, but sometimes football matches aren’t won on hunger. They’re won by using your head, and playing the game of football. When certain situations arise in a game, you’re meant to deal with them in a manner that’s appropriate. For whatever reason, we don’t seem to do that.”

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 Full time 22:16

Talbi: “We want to reach the top”

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, goal-scorer Chemsdine Talbi is thinking even higher than the heights of eighth place for the promoted side, who keep going from strength to strength at home.

He said: “We did a great job today. A lot of passes, a lot of quality on the ball. And today we finished the action well. Really pleased with that and we need to continue like this.

“We want to reach the top. If we can reach top five, top six we can go through. There’s a lot of matches coming but very much focus on the next match.”

His blinder killed off the match, one that the Belgian winger said he’ll need to watch back.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 Full time 22:05

RECAP

– Sunderland cruise past Burnley to 3-0 win, extending their unbeaten home record to 12 matches

– AFCON winner Habib Diarra’s shot deflects in off Axel Tuanzebe for own goal, after great individual goal on first start since September,

– Dúbvraka palmed the Senegalese’s next shot into his own net, for his first Premier League goal of the season

– Talbi stunner sent the hosts up to 8th, Burnley remain 11 points from safety in 19th

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 22:01

Le Bris merits award at end of the season?

Keith: “Le Bris must be a contender for Manager of the Season.”

It’s undeniable that his work is unprecedented for a manager promoted from the Championship in recent times. It’s giving Marcelo Bielsa, or Thomas Frank (the Brentford version, that is).

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 Full time 21:59

Post-match reaction on the way soon…

By Oliver Whitmore

🏁 21:58

FULL TIME | Sunderland 3-0 Burnley

That’s it! Sunderland grab one of, if not their easiest result of the season, to extend their unbeaten run to 12 matches at home. They’re closing in on Birmingham’s record from 2009/10.

As for Burnley, it was a miserable evening with little to no threat posed to Robin Roefs in goal. They remain 19th, and 11 points from safety. Relegation looming.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 93′ 21:55

Burnley are about to finish the game with 56% possession, and an expected goals of 0.06.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 93′ 21:55

Burnley get a throw in to the horror of left-back Reinildo, so much so that the Brazilian takes an age to turn back around and realise the game is still happening behind him. Burnley then move it across the pitch to no-one, and it rolls back into Sunderland’s hands.

If that doesn’t sum the game up, I don’t know what does.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 90′ 21:52

A tale of efficiency and ineptitude

Sunderland and Burnley couldn’t have had more contrasting games if they tried.

The Black Cats have had 13 shots, and from five on target have converted thrice. Their visitors have amounted to five shots total, and none on target.

At the top level, when you have chances you must take them – but you’ve got to make them too, and Burnley simply haven’t done that all evening.

By Oliver Whitmore

🔄 87′ 21:48

Sunderland cult hero Luke O’Nien replaces Omar Alderete for his fifth Premier League appearance.

By Oliver Whitmore

🔄 85′ 21:48

Sunderland have made a triple change.

Diarra, Talbi, and Brobbey are all off.

Lutsharel Geertruida, Romaine Mundle, and Wilson Isidor all enter the frame.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 84′ 21:45

CHANCE!

Reinildo does brilliantly to carry the ball right to the byline on the left, past several challenges, and Trai Hume’s effort is deflected not far wide from six yards. Almost a fourth and it would’ve been so deserved for Sunderland.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 82′ 21:43

Brian Brobbey a “cheat code”

Sheady, Sunderland fan: “Brobbey hold up play is a cheat code.”

It’s been a fairly quiet night in front of goal for Sunderland’s top scorer, but, indeed, he’s been ever so reliable with his back turned. His presence alone caused Burnley issues in the first half, who knows how much worse their night would’ve been if he had converted his only shot of the game.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 76′ 21:37

This is game over. Sunderland are heading 8th.

By Oliver Whitmore

⚽ 72′ 21:33

GOAL! | Talbi

OH MY WORD! That is straight out of the TOP draw from Chemsdine Talbi!

Talbi picks up the ball on the left wing and Kyle Walker simply backs off. The Belgan winger says ‘Thank you very much’, cuts inside onto his right foot and curls a belter off the underside of the bar.

By Oliver Whitmore

🔄 69′ 21:30

Marcus Edwards is replaced by Frenchman Loum Tchaouna.

Just the one goal in a Burnley shirt for him so far.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 67′ 21:29

Tensions rising

A pushing and shoving match breaks out between Trai Hume and Martin Dúbravka after the goalkeeper smothered the ball away from the wide player. Hume didn’t seem to provoke his outburst of frustration.

No surprises if Burnley’s performance thus far did it instead.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 66′ 21:27

CHANCE!

Sunderland miss the chance to put this game to bed.

Habib Diarra is picked out on a run inside of Le Fée, takes it infield with confidence once more and moves it on to Brian Brobbey, whose shot on the turn is parried by a good reaction save from Dúbravka.

Mukiele then arrives and shoots over on the follow up.

By Oliver Whitmore

🔄 63′ 21:25

Foster and Florentino are off for Broja and Flemming.

Looks like Scott Parker is opting for a change in shape, with the pair both operating on front.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 62′ 21:23

Changes are inbound for Burnley, and neither of them are their newest recruit!

Strikers Zian Flemming and Armando Broja are both being prepared.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 61′ 21:22

Sunderland work it well from right to left, starting from Diarra, as Reinildo picks up possession right on the edge of the penalty area, fakes the shot on his weaker foot, but lifts the speculative shot over the bar.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 59′ 21:20

Ward-Prowse watches on

James Ward-Prowse watches on from the bench, yet to be given his opportunity to change the game.

His side have had two shots total and have created very little. Certainly in need of a creative spark here.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 53′ 21:15

Slightly cagey start to the second period, with a couple of fouls interrupting the flow of the game.

Sunderland are still very much in control.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 21:10

Get involved!

Happy so far Sunderland fans? Get in touch!

By Oliver Whitmore

▶️ 46′ 21:08

Second half is underway and Burnley have it all to do.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 Half time 21:04

First half in numbers

Source: Fotmob

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 Half time 20:59

Le Fée lauds “incredible” Diarra

Like them or not, Sky Sports managed to catch up with stand-in Sunderland captain Enzo Le Fée in the tunnel for a half-time interview. He was full of praise for his Senegalese midfield colleague, Habib Diarra, who for a first start since September has done brilliantly well.

On Habib’s first half, Le Fée said: “Incredible. I think it was a good first half for everyone. We are happy for our first half, we need to keep going.

Granit Xhaka’s absence is even a positive for the Frenchman. “If we miss one player we can take some opportunity for everyone to be more [of] a leader,” he said. “So it’s perfect for us.”

By Oliver Whitmore

⏸️ 20:51

HALF TIME

Referee Paul Tierney brings the first half to a close, and it could’ve been any smoother for Sunderland.

They’ve controlled proceedings from minute one to 45 here, with a great showing so far from Habib Diarra who would’ve had a brace had the first shot not have deflected in off Axel Tuanzebe.

Burnley haven’t gotten near them yet. Big task ahead of them in the second. Let’s get some reaction on the game so far…

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 49′ 20:49

Sunderland give it away and Burnley, credit where due, rush forward positively again.

Left wing-back Lucas Pires receives the pass on the overlap, but fires a low drive into the side netting.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 46′ 20:46

Trai Hume bent it in from the right and Burnley don’t clear it at the first time of asking.

The Sunderland players claim a handball, but VAR promptly checks and clears it.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 46′ 20:46

Four minutes of added time have just been announced over the public address system, with a Sunderland free kick on the way.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 45′ 20:45

Burnley victims of their first halves

Not only have Burnley conceded most goals (8) inside the first 15, but they’ve also conceded the most goals in the first half of Premier League games this season.

Very sluggish starters, still with no shots on the Sunderland goal.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 35′ 20:36

Burnley make good progress, this time down the left wing, with Anthony.

His cross is somehow allowed to bounce inside the box before Omar Alderete clears.

Mukiele is now receiving treatment after a collision with Lyle Foster.

By Oliver Whitmore

GOAL! | DIARRA

Now he’s got his goal!

Mukiele is released by a great show of vision from Le Fée, and takes the ball to the byline on the right before picking out the man of the hour, Diarra.

The shot from inside the box is too hot to handle for former Magpie Dúbravka, who palms it into the side netting.

Sunderland cruising now.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 31′ 20:31

Dan Ballard wins it back very well off of Edwards as Brian Brobbey gets the ball, with his back to goal, and lays it off to Enzo Le Fée.

The attacking midfielder gets the shot all wrong, firing tamely and straight at Dúbravka. If that was closer to either corner, Burnley would be in big trouble.

Brobbey is causing issues with his strength up against the away side’s back line.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 29′ 20:30

Kyle Walker gets into a good position high up on the right wing and tries to roll it into the feet of Lesley Ugochukwu, but he’s unable to get full control of the ball.

May or may not be Burnley’s first touch in the Sunderland box. It’s taken half an hour.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 28′ 20:28

Slow starters Burnley “have steadied themselves”

Andy Hinchcliffe on Sky Sports: “The important thing is for Burnley they didn’t crumble after conceding that early goal. They got a foothold on the ball, foothold on the game. Need quality in the final third, when they get there.”

Diarra’s goal is the eighth that Scott Parker’s men have conceded inside the first 15 minutes. That’s more than any other side.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 24′ 20:23

Free kick for Burnley after Marcus Edwards gets caught in a central position by Nordi Mukiele.

A chance for them to do something here?

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 18′ 20:18

No way through for Burnley

The away side have zipped forward in their numbers on the counter attack, but have struggled to hold onto possession for any meaningful length of time.

Strong start from Sunderland here.

By Oliver Whitmore

⚽ 9′ 20:09

GOAL! | Tuanzebe O.G.

Habib Diarra fires Sunderland into the lead with help from Axel Tuanzebe.

The Senegalese, on his first start since September, receives a touch back and dashes through the middle, reaching the penalty area and his shot deflects in off a defender.

It’s the perfect start for Régis Le Bris’ side in their mission to get their European charge back on track.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 7′ 20:06

Dúbravka gets the expected welcome

Martin Dúbravka receives a header back from right wing-back Kyle Walker, and the home faithful make it perfectly clear their feelings towards him given his past affiliation with another club on Tyneside.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 5′ 20:05

Black Cats eyeing up record-breaking run

Sunderland’s unbeaten home run currently stands at 11 Premier League matches, and they’re now beginning to eye up the division’s record for most wins without a defeat among promoted sides.

Birmingham City’s run of 15 matches in the 2009/10 campaign is the target. With only two away wins to contrast their brilliant home form, will they get that far?

By Oliver Whitmore

▶️ 1′ 20:00

KICK-OFF

Now underway at an expectant Stadium of Light.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 19:56

Burnley line up

As for Burnley, Scott Parker makes just the one change: Armando Broja is replaced up front by Lyle Foster.

Unsurprising, as they held Thomas Frank’s struggling Tottenham to a 2-2 draw last time out and perhaps should’ve taken maximum points from the encounter at Turf Moor.

New loan signing James Ward-Prowse is named on the bench.

A win is a must in pretty much every game now, regardless of opposition, with 11 points between them and safety.

Kick off now moments away…

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 19:54

Sunderland line up

Black Cats boss Régis Le Bris makes two changes to the side that lost 3-1 to West Ham at the London Stadium.

Chemsdine Talbi and Habib Diarra both return to the side, while Romaine Mundle and striker Eliezer Mayenda make way and drop to the bench.

Bench: D. Cirkin, L. Geertruida, W. Isidor, Jenson Jones, Eliezer Mayenda, S. Moore, R. Mundle, L. O’Nien, C. Rigg

A win today would see them rise back into eighth in the Premier League, leapfrogging rivals Newcastle United, Everton, and Fulham.

By Oliver Whitmore

📝 19:46

Good evening

A very good evening to you, and welcome to live coverage of relegation-threatened Burnley’s visit to Sunderland, who remain unbeaten at home and the season’s surprise package in the Premier League.

Let’s see how the sides line-up…

By Oliver Whitmore