00:00Hi everyone, Phil here. As ever, all my analysis, play ratings, post-match reaction over on the
00:06Sunderland Decker website. But as ever, I'm going to bring you my little car park reflections after
00:10Nottingham Forest nail Sunderland one. This is an exciting one because we've actually got two car
00:13parks here. We've got the Nottingham Forest one and we're actually going to head to the Trent
00:17Bridge car park home of Nottinghamshire CCC as well. So this is pretty exciting stuff.
00:22Listen, an absolute massive three points for Sunderland in the course of their season. I
00:27thought for an hour, it was pretty much the perfect away performance. I thought that for
00:31Nottingham Forest possession, they didn't really create too many chances. Really impressed with
00:34how Robin Ruffs responded to last week's error. Really confident in sort of coming off his line,
00:38dealing with high balls. Sunderland had the best chance really of the first half with that
00:42Wilson Isidore effort that he flashed just wide the post. So I was really impressed with Sunderland
00:46to be honest and how they were playing. I thought they were a little fortunate with a free kick to
00:51be honest that led to the goal. I think you could argue that there's some simulation from Dominguez,
00:56but I think it's a very brave decision from the referee to say that it was a definite dive
01:00and that Hume didn't make any contact. So I think Sunderland benefited from a slight bit of luck
01:04from that, but a real bit of quality from Zaka with a free kick and Aldereta, who was a mental game,
01:09a really good header. So yeah, for an hour, I thought Sunderland were excellent.
01:13No, but after that, they were a little bit lucky. I think you look particularly that header from
01:16Chris Wood that he flashes wide the post. How many goals like that has he scored and put away over the
01:21last year? I think Sunderland are just in a great spot at the moment where everything seems to be
01:25going for them and they're getting a little bit of luck. But they've also got a brilliant goalkeeper
01:29with an exceptional signing. That looks to be Robin Ruffs. Responded really well to that rare
01:33mistake last week. You know, that save with his foot after Aldereta's block was really top draw.
01:38And to be fair, you know, yes, there was a 15, 20 minute period where Sunderland were really lucky,
01:43but I thought they ended the game strongly. And they actually had the best two kind of chances of
01:47the last 10, 15 minutes. That one that dropped kindly for Ballard that he put just over the bar.
01:51And then obviously there was that one where Betroyd went through and nearly scored as well.
01:55So I actually thought Sunderland managed the very sort of latter stages of the game really well.
01:59So it's one of those where I can understand that. I'm far from coming away thinking,
02:02how did we not get something from that game? But to be honest, I think that Sunderland have shown
02:07that they've got a real resilience about them. And I think because of that,
02:11I think they certainly deserve something from the game. Man, the match, I think it's really hard.
02:14A team's been rough. So I mentioned it was excellent. Aldereta, obviously the match winner,
02:17but for me, I think I would have to go with Ryan Uzaka. I thought that was his best performance
02:21yet. And I just thought he looked at class above. It's incredible that a player of his poise,
02:26his composure, you know, his playing for Sunderland, I think it's just absolutely remarkable.
02:31Okay, this road's a little bit dicey, so bear with me. There we go. Yeah, I thought that
02:37was his best performance yet. The way he broke up a play, the way he picked his passes,
02:42I just thought he was absolutely exceptional. He must be the best signing from the promoted team
02:46for a long, long time. So I've given him my man the match.
02:49Speaking of Regis Lebreus after the game, really pleased with the defensive resilience.
02:54Not getting carried away at all. Acknowledging that he'd like his team to be a little bit
02:57better in possession. I think at times, Nottingham Forest let Sunderland play out from the back
03:01a little bit and then press. And I think you could see something weren't always comfortable.
03:04So it's still a way in progress, still a lot to improve on. But I think it's remarkable
03:08how quickly this team have built this heart and this desire, if you like, despite the fact
03:13so much change has happened over the summer. Their ability and their willingness to suffer,
03:18they almost seem to relish having to defend in the low block and put bodies on the line.
03:23And it's standing them in really good stead. Makes Man United a really exciting game.
03:27I wouldn't say a free hit, because no game's a free hit at this level. But Sunderland in
03:31a really great position just to go and give that a good go and try and get another point
03:34or three on the ball before the national break. So, at the moment, everything seems to be
03:39going for Sunderland decisions. You know, a little bit of fortune in the game. But I
03:44think what you have to say is they've got an excellent defensive structure and they're
03:47reaping the rewards from that. So, yeah, that's Trent Bridge behind me. So, yeah, the full
03:52episode of On The Whistle will be available tomorrow. So, look out for that. And as ever,
03:57all my post-match analysis over on the Sunderland Echo website.
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