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There was a smile. Of course, there was going to be a smile. Regis Le Bris had just overseen a comeback that gave the locals goosebumps, one which left Sunderland in the top four, but while his contentment was obvious, he wouldn’t let joy dilute his stance.
‘We are still looking at 40 points,’ Le Bris said. Caution is understandable but the message was at odds with the scene around him. Sunderland’s magnificent form continues at pace and what a joy it was to be inside the Stadium Of Light, as a storm battered the roof and goals rained down.
This was what a midwinter Saturday at 3pm should be, a glorious throwback to an old-fashioned dust up. There was drama, incidents that made you gasp, noise that made you lose your concentration. The pace was breathless, the teams were committed and, at the end, the right side won.
Having been two goals down inside 20 minutes, a rip-roaring fightback secured Sunderland their most impressive victory of the campaign. Adoni Iraola, Bournemouth’s crestfallen manager, would disagree but he became the latest to heed the club motto of ‘Til The End.
Sunderland established themselves as the Premier League's ultimate fighters on Saturday
REGIS ROLLS ON RELENTLESSLY
It would have been easy for Sunderland to go under. Bournemouth started briskly and their impressive front four sparkled; Amine Adli and Tyler Adams inflicted the kind of blows from which newly-promoted teams have struggled to comeback.
The goal Adams scored will feature in the end of season highlights reel, a pure 40-yard drive that dipped beautifully under the bar and evaded the back-pedalling Robin Roefs. Bournemouth are imaginative and dangerous and they looked like scoring plenty more.
But this is Sunderland. Your mind was drawn back to encounters with Aston Villa and Arsenal, to Everton and Brentford here, where they just keep playing and pressing and running until they have nothing left to give. They don’t know they are beaten and what a wonderfully quality that is.
‘Sometimes you can go 2-0 down and give up but we have belief,’ said Le Bris. ‘We had started well and the references in how we were playing were clear. When you have resilience, you can have confidence. One goal changed the game and lifted the crowd.’
IRAOLA IRKED
That one goal was a penalty that threatened to tip Bournemouth over the edge. Alex Scott challenged Reinildo and after a prolonged VAR check, the decision was confirmed. Enzo Le Fee swept home from 12 yards and the momentum changed.
Robinson had what can be kindly described as a busy afternoon, dealing cards like an overworked croupier. Iraola received a caution in the second period, as did his assistant Tommy Elphick, and he delivered what was the most polite skewering of a match official you could wish to hear.
‘I really wanted us to make it 3-3 and then I could complain about the referee more,’ said Iraola, who proceeded to complain about the referee. ‘The crowd here played the game. They asked for everything. But, come on, you are a Premier League referee. He absolutely lost control.’
Andoni Iraola must address Bournemouth's set piece woes after they arose once again
BOURNEMOUTH’S BAD BACK
Whatever Iraola felt about Robinson, he had more reason to be disappointed with his team. They have now conceded 23 times in 13 games and the inability to stay resolute at the back was preyed upon by Sunderland, who tore into them in the second period.
Most worrying for Iraola is the fact only Nottingham Forest (12) have conceded more set piece goals than Bournemouth (joint second on 11 with West Ham) and you fancy Sean Dyche will put it right quicker than Iraola does on this evidence.
‘This is so costly,’ said the Spaniard, who saw David Brooks receive a yellow card that rules him out of Tuesday’s game with Everton. ‘We have conceded seven times from set pieces in the last three matches and taken only one point. We have to look at ourselves.
Indiscipline was a huge factor in their performance. Lewis Cook, for instance, allowed Brian Brobbey to run off him unmarked for the decisive header, after Bertrand Traore had equalised; he was then sent off for a stupid, not to mention dangerous, elbow on Noah Sadiki.’
HE’S MADE OF GRANIT
No prizes for guessing that Granit Xhaka would have a bearing on the outcome, his display epitomised by a 95th minute tackle that generated as much noise as any of the three goals. What a signing he has been, arguably the best purchase by any club in the summer.
‘When we decide to press, he can change the dynamic behind,’ said Le Bris. ‘He drags people with him. He gives us belief and we are showing it on the pitch.’
They really are: it’s why 40 points should be the very minimum Sunderland should aim for – and why they will be at that number very quickly.
