Sunderland 3-0 Burnley Player Ratings: Black Cats Cruise to A Dominant Victory at Home | Premier League

Sunderland maintained their unbeaten home record in the Premier League with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Burnley. The win lifts Régis Le Bris’ side to eighth place in the table, level on points with seventh-placed Brentford, and continues their strong form at the Stadium of Light.

The hosts made a fast start and took the lead after just nine minutes. Abdoullah Diarra’s shot took a deflection off Axel Tuanzebe, wrong-footing goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka and resulting in an own goal.

Sunderland remained in control and doubled their advantage in the 32nd minute, when Diarra scored his first Premier League goal, finishing from close range in a moment Burnley felt the goalkeeper could have handled better.

Burnley enjoyed spells of possession but struggled to create any meaningful chances. Their difficulties were underlined by the fact that they failed to register a single shot on target for the fourth time this season. Sunderland ended any hopes of a comeback with 18 minutes remaining, as Talbi produced an excellent finish to make it 3-0.

The statistics reflected Sunderland’s dominance, with the hosts recording an expected goals figure of 1.47 compared to Burnley’s 0.06. Le Bris will hope this confident display carries into Sunderland’s next fixture, a challenging away trip to league leaders Arsenal.

For Burnley, the defeat extends their winless run in the Premier League to 15 matches. They remain 11 points from safety and now turn their attention to a crucial home game against West Ham, which could prove decisive in their fight against relegation. Check out Sunderland vs Burnley player ratings from the EPL game in this article.

Key Takeaways

1. Sunderland took an early lead when Abdoullah Diarra’s shot deflected in for an own goal.
2. Diarra scored again before half-time to claim his first Premier League goal.
3. Talbi sealed the win with a fine finish late in the second half as Burnley failed to register a shot on target.

Sunderland Player Ratings vs Burnley

Here are Sunderland player ratings from the home match agaist Burnley:

Goalkeeper

Robin Roefs - 6.5: Had a surprisingly quiet evening for a keeper in a 3-0 win. From our perspective, he was more of a spectator. He made one good high claim but wasn't truly tested by a toothless Burnley attack. His distribution was a bit hit-and-miss, which is an area for improvement. Overall, a clean sheet is a clean sheet.

Defenders

Dan Ballard - 8.0: A colossal performance at the heart of the defense. We noticed he was dominant in the air, winning 4 of his 7 aerial duels and making a staggering 9 clearances. He completely nullified any threat that came his way. He even ventured forward for a header that went just off target. A real leader's display.

Omar Alderete - 7.0: A solid partner for Ballard. He was composed on the ball, completing 78% of his passes and contributing 5 clearances. He caught the opposition offside once, showing good positioning. His game was cut short by injury, but he played his part in building the foundation for the win.

Reinildo Mandava - 7.5: Provided a crucial assist and was a constant outlet on the left. What stood out to us was his attacking intent, creating two chances for his teammates. Defensively, he was solid, making 4 clearances and 2 interceptions. A very well-rounded performance from the full-back.

Nordi Mukiele - 7.0: A bundle of energy down the right flank. He was a bit wasteful, missing a big chance and putting two shots off target. However, his creative spark was undeniable, creating two chances, including one big one. He recovered the ball 5 times, showing a good work rate to get back and defend.

Trai Hume - 6.5: The captain led by example with his effort, though his final ball was often lacking. He lost possession 20 times which is a bit high. Still, he worked tirelessly, made a few key defensive actions, and got a yellow card for a necessary tactical foul. A mixed but hard-working display.

Midfielders

Chemsdine Talbi - 8.0: A fantastic attacking display from the midfielder. He scored a well-taken goal and was a creative force, crafting two key passes. His dribbling was a joy to watch, successfully completing 4 out of 5 attempts. He was a constant thorn in Burnley's side before being subbed off.

Habib Diarra - 8.5: Our Man of the Match. He was simply sensational. He capped off a dominant performance with a goal and was the engine room of the team. We were particularly impressed by his all-action style, contributing defensively with tackles and interceptions while always looking to drive forward. A complete midfield performance.

Noah Sadiki - 7.0: The quiet orchestrator in midfield. He kept things ticking over with an impressive 93% pass accuracy. He wasn't flashy, but his role was vital in maintaining Sunderland's control of the game. He did his defensive duties diligently and rarely wasted a pass.

Enzo Le Fée - 7.5: A defensive powerhouse in the middle of the park. He won an incredible 7 out of 9 duels and made 4 successful tackles. From our perspective, he broke up play effortlessly. He also recovered the ball 8 times, showing his fantastic reading of the game. A warrior's performance.

Forwards

Brian Brobbey - 6.0: It was a frustrating night for the striker. He did grab an assist but his main job is to score goals, and he missed a big chance. He only managed 24 touches before being substituted, which shows he struggled to get involved. He worked hard but it just wasn't his night.

Substitutes

Romaine Mundle - N/A: Came on late with the game already won.

Lutsharel Geertruida - N/A: Brought on to see out the comfortable victory.

Wilson Isidor - N/A: Had one shot on target in his brief cameo.

Luke O'Nien - N/A: Replaced the injured Alderete to help secure the clean sheet.

Manager

R. Le Bris - 8.0: He got his tactics absolutely spot on. His team was aggressive, organized, and clinical from the first whistle. They pressed Burnley into mistakes and exploited their weaknesses perfectly. A masterful game plan that led to a dominant win at the Stadium of Light.

Burnley Player Ratings vs Sunderland

Let's take a look at Burnley player ratings from the EPL game:

Goalkeeper

Martin Dúbravka - 7.0: He conceded three goals, but honestly, he was let down by his defense. He made three saves, two of which were from inside the box, preventing an even bigger humiliation. He can't be faulted for the goals and his yellow card was likely from frustration. He was one of the few who can hold his head high.

Defenders

Maxime Estève - 6.0: He was busy, to say the least. The stat of 10 clearances shows how much pressure the defense was under. He won a decent number of his aerial duels but was part of a backline that was completely overwhelmed. He fought hard but it was a thankless task.

Axel Tuanzebe - 4.0: A disastrous performance. Scoring an own goal is a defender's worst nightmare, and it set the tone for a terrible day. He looked shaky and was unsurprisingly hooked at halftime. A day to forget and the clear worst performer on the pitch.

Bashir Humphreys - 5.5: He put up some decent numbers with 6 duels won and 6 clearances. However, he was part of a defense that conceded three goals and looked disjointed all game. He struggled to contain Sunderland's fluid attack and was often chasing shadows.

Midfielders

Kyle Walker - 6.0: The captain tried to drag his team forward but it was a futile effort. He won his tackles and kept the ball reasonably well, but he was fighting a losing battle. His yellow card late on summed up the team's frustration. He never gave up, but he was on a sinking ship.

Lesley Ugochukwu - 5.0: A difficult day in the engine room. He picked up a yellow card and looked a step behind the pace of the game. While he didn't make any glaring errors, he failed to impose himself on the Sunderland midfield and offered little protection to his backline.

Florentino - 4.5: Made an error that led to a goal, which is a cardinal sin for a midfielder. He was largely anonymous before being substituted after 63 minutes. What stood out to us was his inability to impact the game in any meaningful way, either defensively or offensively.

Lucas Pires - 5.0: He lost possession a staggering 21 times. While he tried to be positive with his crossing, the quality just wasn't there. Defensively he was exposed and couldn't handle the movement of Sunderland's attackers. A tough outing.

Forwards

Lyle Foster - 5.0: Starved of service and completely isolated. He only had 17 touches in his 63 minutes on the pitch. He can't be blamed for his team's inability to create anything, but he offered very little threat himself. A ghost of a performance.

Marcus Edwards - 5.5: He drew a few fouls but that was about the extent of his contribution. He was dispossessed twice and his final product was missing. He looked lively in moments but ultimately couldn't make a dent in the solid Sunderland defense.

Jaidon Anthony - 6.0: One of the few Burnley players who looked like he might create something. He had two key passes but was often let down by a lack of support. His yellow card showed his frustration at a long, fruitless evening. He tried his best in a poor team performance.

Substitutes

Josh Laurent - N/A: Came on at halftime but couldn't change the tide.

Armando Broja - N/A: Had no impact after coming on.

Zian Flemming - N/A: Tried a shot from distance but was otherwise quiet.

Loum Tchaouna - N/A: Barely touched the ball.

Jacob Bruun Larsen - N/A: A late sub with no time to influence the match.

Manager

S. Parker - 4.5: His team looked completely unprepared for Sunderland's intensity. The defensive setup was shambolic and they offered no attacking threat whatsoever. His substitutions were ineffective and it felt like he had no answer to the problems his team faced. A very poor showing from the dugout.

Man of the Match

Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra was the best player on the pitch.

Worst Performer

Axel Tuanzebe scored an own goal for Burnley.