Andy's Player Ratings: Watford 1-0 Sunderland - Another drab display under Dodds

27/04/2024 18:03

Another shoddy display on the road from Sunderland under Mike Dodds as they lose away at Watford. Here's how Andy rated the Lads…

Anthony Patterson: 5/10

Made a good save from a snapshot in the second half but I thought he should have done better with the goal and his kicking was atrocious.

Trai Hume: 5/10

Had a really good chance to score in the first half but saw his effort saved. Some questionable defending, notably diving in but getting nowhere near the attacker and allowing the winger to take another touch and get an uncontested cross in which ended up requiring Patterson to make a save.

Luke O'Nien (C): 6/10

Was OK for most of the game with not a lot of sustained attacks coming from the home side, got lucky that he only got booked after a ludicrous volleyball style handball on the half-way line.

Dan Ballard: 6/10

Covered well on the break, particularly in the first half when Watford were trying to get runners in behind.

Aji Alese: 6/10

Solid enough on the left of the defence, always quick to put a tackle in, including a cruncher high up the pitch in the first half.

Callum Styles: 5/10

Drove us forward at one point in the second half and created a chance for Clarke but struggled to get involved in the game.

Jobe Bellingham: 4/10

The game bypassed him in midfield, looked sluggish throughout and barely a factor.

Pierre Ekwah: 5/10

Covered a lot of ground but played it safe too often and seems to miss the mobility and cover Dan Neil provides alongside him.

Chris Rigg: 5/10

Clearly not a winger and couldn't provide an attacking threat from wide, was played in by Aouchiche at one point but couldn't threaten the goal with a weak effort. Did well to track back in the first half during a Watford counter to sniff out their threat but a quiet game.

Jack Clarke: 5/10

Obviously our most dangerous player but far too greedy too often, going for glory rather than looking for team-mates. Did have a few good chances though but never had his shooting boots on.

Adil Aouchiche: 5/10

Didn't look comfortable being the focal point of attack, linked up play OK when he dropped deeper with some neat interplay with his team-mates, including creating a good chance for Rigg, but no real threat himself.

Substitutes

Abdoullah Ba: 6/10

Looked lively when he came on, made a good run and got a shot on target from a Roberts pass.

Patrick Roberts: 5/10

What on earth was that effort when he was given a chance on a plate??

Luis Hemir: 6/10

Played what should have been the equalising ball to Roberts only for the winger to fall over when presented with a sitter.

Corry Evans: 6/10

Kept it simple after coming on.

Man of the Match: Dan Ballard

Watford were a danger on the break in the first half but Ballard was always quick to show his pace to cover and snuff out the threat.