Michael Beale admitted there is a lot for him to go away and improve on after Sunderland’s away day blues continued at the home of the Blues at St. Andrew’s as Sunderland surrendered a first half lead against Birmingham City.
Beale is right, there are a number of things for Sunderland to be wary of currently; their declining away form, the widening gap to the Championship’s play-off spots, Patrick Roberts’ injury and Dan Ballard’s impending two-match suspension being among some of those concerns. But although it was largely an afternoon to forget in the second city, there was at least one positive to comfort Beale in the shape Romaine Mundle’s full debut.
Having made back-to-back substitute appearances against Plymouth Argyle and Huddersfield Town, Mundle was handed his first start for Sunderland since completing a permanent move to the Stadium of Light on transfer deadline day as he replaced Abdoullah Ba on the right of Beale’s attack with Roberts set for another month on the sideline due to a hamstring injury picked up in the closing stages of Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat at Huddersfield.
The expectation on Mundle is going to be significant given his position on either wing and the likelihood of being tasked with being part of the answer to a potential Jack Clarke exit further down the line. But Mundle’s first start in the Championship did offer some encouragement, with the kind of raw potential we have seen in a number of the current Sunderland squad.
Given Mundle’s inexperience when it comes to first team exposure – the 20-year-old having made just seven appearances for Belgian Pro League side Standard Liege following a healthy progression through the ranks with Tottenham Hotspur – there was an argument to be made that we may not see much of the young winger this season aside from the odd cameo here and there, like in those games against Plymouth and Huddersfield. But, speaking prior to this three-game week, Beale had been high on Mundle since his arrival, and spoke glowingly about his impression in training.
“He’s surprised me. He hasn’t played much football, so I was thinking maybe it would take him some time, but having watched him in training over the last couple of days, I think he’s got a completely different intention in that he wants to play and he wants to play now.
“His training is really sharp. His first impression to his team-mates has been really good. I saw the game [against Bristol City under-21s] and I thought he showed a little bit of what he can bring; he’s really quick.
“He’d prefer to play from the left but I think he can also play through the middle and on the right as well. We’re going to need to come up with a few things between now and the end of the season that surprises opponents and he’s another one who comes into that.”
Mundle’s inclusion was certainly an element of surprise, not least to former head coach Tony Mowbray in the opposite dugout at St. Andrew’s – one of two players the former Sunderland head coach will have been unfamiliar with, alongside defender Leo Hjelde.
And Mundle made an impression in what was a positive first half from Beale’s side, as they went into the break in front thanks to Clarke’s 15th goal of the season. Mundle was part of a front three who pressed Birmingham high in their own defensive third, aided by Pierre Ekwah and Jobe Bellingham being more advanced out of possession, which led to a turnover in possession by Clarke as he capitalised on a loose ball from Paik Seung-ho.
Sunderland might have scored prior to that, however, courtesy of some strong wing play from Mundle as he shifted the ball away from Ethan Laird to whip an excellent cross into the penalty area for Mason Burstow. The ability to cross without cutting back inside from a wide area is something Sunderland have lacked throughout the season and is certainly an attribute worth considering with Mundle.
The winger was also seen drifting in-field, similar to the trend we have seen from Beale’s set up in making the pitch narrow, as he picked up a ball from Clarke to turn and shoot from distance – one of two attempts at goal from Mundle, the second manufactured by his own excellent persistence to force an error by Krystian Bielik which forced John Ruddy into a fine save.
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In total, Mundle enjoyed 33 touches, including one of Sunderland’s relatively low 13 in the opposition penalty area. Mundle had three attempted dribbles in the game – only bettered by Clarke and was involved in nine duels.
“I thought he was very good in the first half,” said Beale. “Naturally he tired because he hasn't played much football, but I thought he was very good in the first half.
“He was playing against a very good player in Ethan Laird and that was a good battle. I thought in the first half Romaine got the better of it, in the second half Ethan came into the game. He was really unlucky not to score, it's a fantastic save, so it’s really positive signs and we're going to need it with losing Paddy.
“We were sat here last week thinking 'ah Paddy and Jack, and in Romaine and Abdoullah we've got good options' and we've lost one of those straight away. There's a big opportunity if he can play at that level and if that's his baseline level, he'll grow from that, I think we've got a player we can be excited about.
“What we’re really good at as a club is giving young players an opportunity. What we’ve got to ask for in return is a lot of responsibility in terms of the way the player trains, the way he lives his life and the way he gives positivity to the environment.”
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