Strikers make a difference. Who knew?
For a second successive game, the introduction of Ellis Simms from the bench was the catalyst for Sunderland. At Luton last Saturday, Simms' 20 minute run-out on his return from injury gave the Black Cats the attacking focal point they needed, and Elliot Embleton duly scored a goal that earned his side a point.
At Huddersfield Town last night, Simms was called into action at half-time - earlier than the 30 minute outing that Tony Mowbray had planned - and his arrival helped elevate Sunderland's performance from below-par to good-enough, as goals from Alex Pritchard and Amad delivered a crucial away win. Afterwards, despite the result, Mowbray described Sunderland's performance as 'probably the worst since I've been here'.
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He was probably being a little harsh on his players, given the blustery, rain-lashed, conditions in West Yorkshire. It was not a night suited to the silky skills of Pritchard, Embleton, Patrick Roberts, and Amad.
And that was where Simms came in. He replaced the largely ineffectual Leon Dajaku at the break, and immediately Sunderland had a physical presence in the final third, a player willing to run in behind, and someone who gave them the option of going more direct.
These last two games have underlined just how much Sunderland have missed having a centre-forward to call upon over the preceding seven games when both Simms and leading scorer Ross Stewart have been sidelined through injury. Had Sunderland had one, or both, available over that period, they would surely have managed more than the six points they collected and would most likely be comfortably in the top half of the Championship table.
As it was, this was only a second win in nine games for Mowbray's men, and their first on the road since Simms' injury at Reading in mid-September. And given that Sunderland had arrived at the John Smith's Stadium with just two points between themselves and the bottom three, it increased that gap to a much more healthy-looking five points with the Black Cats climbing four places to 12th.
In all honesty, Huddersfield were not very good. They may have made the play-off final last season, but they are propping up the table this term.
For all they caused Sunderland a few problems early on in the first half, Anthony Patterson only had to make one significant save and that came early in the second period when he denied Duane Holmes in a one-on-one, with Jordan Rhodes helpfully blazing his follow-up shot over the bar when he should have scored. The importance of Patterson's save was crystallised just a minute later when a clever one-two between Amad and Roberts inside the box on the right ended with the latter squaring for Pritchard to divert home from close range.
It was a sweet moment for Pritchard on his return to his former club and, having been booed by the Huddersfield fans every time he touched the ball, he wasted no time in holding his hands to his ears in front of the home supporters. Huddersfield had to throw caution to the wind in an attempt to get back into the game, and they were caught out in injury-time when Sunderland won the ball and broke downfield through Amad, who exchanged passes with Simms before slotting his finish under the keeper to wrap things up.
With a clean sheet to celebrate too, it was a decent night's work.
READ NEXT:
- Tony Mowbray labels Sunderland's display at Huddersfield the worst since he arrived despite the win
- Sunderland player ratings as Amad stands out in victory against the Terriers
- Alex Pritchard and Amad fire Sunderland to victory at basement side Huddersfield Town
- Tony Mowbray explains why Sunderland should have 'no fears' over relegation this season
- Sunderland coach Tony Mowbray left wrestling with 'conundrum' over Amad and Patrick Roberts
