Under 21's v Sunderland

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Interesting to watch the boys last night against a good Sunderland side especially after the last match I saw was a breeze against Bayern Munich.TO be fair we dominated the ball for large parts of the game I thought and we were leading 2.1 part way through the 2nd half but the weakness in our defence was exposed in the end.

The first goal we conceded for Sunderland to equalise was 100% down to our insistence on playing the ball short from the keeper.Sunderland ( Paul Bracewell) got wise to it very early on and pushed 4 players forward but still we tried and eventually an attempted short pass straight down the middle was blocked to leave virtually a tap in for the striker.

That was tough on the attacking City who scored with a neat header from Barker's cross and then a smart finish from Ntcham again from a Barker pass. Then the referee played his part to allow a goal when their striker floored our guy off the ball leaving him free to score from about 18 yards ( I was talking so missed the incident but the City players were incensed).Then a penalty given for minimal contact by Angelino put Sunderland ahead.

It was all finished when Maffeo misjudged a long ball then slipped to leave a free run for their number 7 Whatmore to score easily. We huffed and puffed from then and did create close moments but didn't score again and the referee seemed oblivious to 2 clear penalties but then again I am biased.

What the game did show to me is the weakness in central defence with 2 players in there who are not centre backs.Evans can look good till there is serious defending to do but it's not his normal game and for me it shows how much learning he has to do about the positional aspects never mind the simple art of being a tough strong defender. Maffeo is a good defender but much more a full back than center back but I assume is being given the experience of playing there. Adarabioyo was on the bench! Also I believe Maffeo is still only 16.

Good signs again from Barker who set both goals up and was always a threat despite being singled out for double or even treble marking. Celina playing as a number 9 was largely lost and although Ambrose (playing wide right) looked threatening at times ,he never quite got the final pass right or got fully past his man.

No doubt another very good learning exercise for Vieira and the lads.

[Ted Hughes]

Cheers Doug.

Mafeo is actually 17. He looks a really good defender to me but not as a centre back ! I thought he looked good going forward as fullback as well as defensively & when I've seen him at cb, he has made a real fist of it, but only in the way that Zabba would if thrown in there in the first team, ie; clearly NOT a central defender, but doing his best.

I wonder if Evans is playing at cb to help him develop, or whether it's just purely to keep him busy whilst they find him a move ? I haven't seen him there but it appears we have taken a couple of beatings since employing him in that position.

Wonder who's next for the job ? Byrne perhaps ? Barker ?