By The Telegraph (World News) | Created at 2024-10-04 19:05:34 | Updated at 2024-10-04 21:20:01
2 hours ago
Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of Sunderland against Leeds United in the Championship. This promises to be an intriguing encounter between two sides who have started the season well.
Sunderland’s six wins have propelled them to the top of the table, a point clear of Burnley, and although it’s still early days Mackems fans must be dreaming about a first return to the promised land in nine seasons.
The Black Cats’ only two league defeats have both come in the last three matches but they are strong at the Stadium of Light, where they have so far won all four matches without conceding a goal. They are also the Championship’s top scorers with 16 goals.
As well as the precocious Chris Rigg, who is among Sunderland’s best players at the tender age of 17, and Romaine Mundle, 21, the club’s top scorer with three, another star performer so far this campaign has been Jobe Bellingham, Jude’s little brother. Bellingham joined from Birmingham City last year and in fact scored in a 1-0 win in this fixture last December.
The 19-year-old has really come into his own this season, helping Regis Lebris to get his managerial career in England off to a flying start. Like his Champions League-winning sibling Bellingham can play in a variety of roles, but Lebris has benefited from playing him in the No 8 position.
“I like him as an eight because as an offensive midfielder he can express his power, his ability to run, his ability to press, his ability to make the link between defence and attack,” said Lebris last month. “He is very linked with our left triangle with Dennis [Cirkin] and Romaine [Mundle], so I think that could be his position. For me, his best position is as an offensive midfielder on the left side.”
If he manages to find consistency perhaps he too will be courted by a German club, earn international recognition and have his own behind-the-scenes documentary on YouTube.
A win for Leeds will lift them level on points with Sunderland at the top of the table and Daniel Farke’s side will fancy their chances of getting a result against the early pacesetters. The Whites have lost only once in the league so far - to Burnley - and are looking to stretch their unbeaten sequence to four matches.
Joel Piroe is among the danger men for the visitors, the Dutchman having hit three goals this season, while Italy international Wilfried Gnonto, USA midfielder Brenden Aaronson and Belgian winger Largie Ramazani have each scored twice.
The Yorkshire side, who have big plans to develop their Elland Road ground, are strong contenders to return to the top flight they departed the season before last, and they would rather do it by finishing in the top two. Their loss to Southampton at Wembley in May was their sixth play-off final defeat out of six.
In their last match Sunderland beat Derby County 2-0, while Leeds earned a creditable draw at Farke’s former side Norwich City, courtesy of this Ramazani equaliser.
