Sunderland progressed through to the quarter-finals of the League Cup on Wednesday night with a 3-2 win over Brentford at the Stadium of Light.
The Black Cats have struggled in the Premier League this season, winning once, but their form in the cup has been sublime and they picked up another win against the Bees.
Chemsdine Talbi, Timur Tutierov, and Malick Fofana scored the goals for Regis Le Bris in the first half, before Callum Wilson and Igor Thiago netted consolation goals for the away side.
After scoring for the second time in as many starts for the first-team this month, Tutierov should now be kept in the line-up for the trip to Coventry on Saturday.
Why Tutierov should be undroppable
The Ukraine international should start in the centre-forward position against the Sky Blues because Brian Brobbey is still feeling his way back after a hamstring injury and did not look at his best against Leeds.
In the 0-0 draw on Sunday, the Netherlands international missed a huge chance to score, one-on-one with James Trafford, before being substituted without a goal.
Tutierov, now, should come into the starting line-up in the Premier League after a composed finish in the win over Brentford, to go along with a pass success rate of 82%.
Sunderland would then have the benefit of being able to bring on a fresh Brobbey against tired legs, to get the best out of him whilst he gets back to full fitness.
9/10 Sunderland star was better than Tutierov
Tutierov was not the best performer for the Black Cats against Brentford, despite his goal, as one of his fellow attackers totally dominated their Premier League rivals.
Jocelin Ta Bi was given a start for just the second time in all competitions this season, after playing in the previous round against Hull City, and delivered an immense performance on the flank.
The Ivorian wide man produced an electric showing on Wearside and did not give Brentford a moment of peace throughout his 90 minutes on the pitch for Sunderland.
|
Vs Brentford |
Tutierov |
Ta Bi |
|---|---|---|
|
Shots on target |
1 |
1 |
|
Goals |
1 |
0 |
|
Key passes |
0 |
3 |
|
Big chances created |
0 |
2 |
|
Assists |
0 |
2 |
|
Dribbles completed |
0 |
2 |
|
Duels won |
1/4 |
8/15 |
He was even better than Tutierov because he contributed to more goals, created more chances, created more ‘big chances’, won more duels, and completed more dribbles.
It was also his shot that was spilled by Hakon Valdimarsson for the opening goal from Talbi, which means that he essentially created all three of his team’s goals.
Ta Bi produced a 9/10 display for Le Bris on the right side of the attack because of how he contributed to all three of Sunderland’s goals in the first half, putting in a near-perfect performance on the wing.
Sunderland have unearthed their new Jack Clarke
Not only was the Ivorian even better than Tutierov against Brentford, but he also looks like an even bigger talent than the Ukrainian because he just matched the striker’s goal contributions across six games this season (two) in one game of football.
Supporters watching the young winger in action at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday night may have been reminded of one of the club’s former players, Jack Clarke.
The English forward, who is now at Ipswich Town, was an electrifying wide man during his time on Wearside, offering goals, dribbles, and assists in abundance.
|
Jack Clarke (Championship) |
22/23 |
23/24 |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
45 |
40 |
|
Goals |
9 |
15 |
|
Key passes per game |
1.7 |
2.4 |
|
Big chances created |
7 |
12 |
|
Assists |
11 |
4 |
|
Dribbles completed per game |
2.0 |
3.7 |
Clarke became a star for the Black Cats because of how consistently he offered a threat in the final third, averaging 2.0 more dribbles per game in his last two seasons with the club.
Ta Bi has the potential to follow in his footsteps if he can continue to deliver performances like the one that he put in against Brentford, as he offered a goal threat, with a shot on target, created two ‘big chances’ for the team, and completed two dribbles.
It is now down to Le Bris to provide the young forward with more opportunities to impress, as Ta Bi has yet to start a game in the Premier League this season.
