Can Sam Allardyce pull off the impossible at Sunderland?
On Saturday, Big Sam pulled off something that few could have imagined early on in Sunderland’s season. Their impressive 2-0 win over Stoke was their second consecutive victory following their 1-0 triumph over Crystal Palace last week. It was the first time they had managed to win back-to-back games all season. They have now risen to 17th, two points above the relegation zone and can build from here. Patrick van Aanholt was the standout performer for the Black Cats, turning in a performance of industry up and down the flanks. Despite their numerical advantage, Allardyce should be pleased with the way his team fought for the points given they seemed to be going through the motions earlier in the season. There may be light at the end of the tunnel after all.
Aston Villa cannot stop losing
Another week, another loss for a team that is winless in a startling 13 games. What must be worrying for new boss Remi Garde is that there is no lack of effort from his squad but somehow they are coming up short every week. In their 3-2 loss to Watford, they enjoyed a 65% share of the possession and had the same amount of shots on target as their opponents. The grim prospect of relegation seems increasingly likely as the club has now lost 11 out of its 13 game winless run. That is far worse than relegation form and comparable to some of the worst teams in the Premier League era. Villa are clearly getting unlucky but their defensive frailties are hurting them more. They had numerous opportunities to clear the ball in the build-up to Odhion Ighalo’s goal and Troy Deeney’s winner, but conceded as a result of poor marking. Already seven points from safety, these are worrying times for Villa.
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