Sunderland proved their season has real depth and substance as they earned a hard-fought goalless draw away at Brighton, showing little sign of disruption despite losing several key players to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Missing regular starters Noah Sadiki, Reinaldo, Bertrand Traore and Chemsdine Talbi, Regis Le Bris’ side arrived at the Amex Stadium facing questions about how they would cope. The answer was emphatic: with organisation, discipline and a sharp competitive edge that unsettled the hosts for long spells.
In fact, it was Sunderland who fashioned the clearer openings. Dan Ballard and Oscar Alderete both tested Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, who was forced into his finest moment shortly after the restart. Alderete met Enzo Le Fee’s delivery with a powerful header that seemed destined for the net, only for Verbruggen to claw the ball onto the woodwork with a superb reflex save.
Brighton gradually asserted themselves as the match wore on, but their growing possession did not translate into goals. Yasin Ayari was central to most of their attacking threat, registering five attempts and finding space regularly, yet his finishing let him down. His best chance came after a smart cut-back from substitute Charalampos Kostoulas, but the resulting effort was blocked before another fierce drive was kept out by Robin Roefs.
The longer the game remained scoreless, the more frustration crept into the home crowd. Sunderland, by contrast, looked increasingly comfortable, defending with composure and authority. Ballard, in particular, was outstanding once again, marshalling the back line with calm assurance and dominating aerially whenever Brighton looked to go direct. His recent clean sheets against Newcastle and Brighton underline just how well he has adapted to Premier League demands.
The draw keeps Sunderland firmly among the European places in fifth, reinforcing the sense that their impressive start to the campaign is no fluke. Brighton, meanwhile, are now four league games without a win, and the muted reaction at full-time reflected a feeling of opportunity missed on the south coast.
Both sides took something from the contest, but it was Sunderland’s collective resilience — forged in the absence of several senior figures — that stood out most on a night when grit and organisation trumped flair.
