Pembele promise and Rigg love in what we learnt in the past week at Sunderland

Within the last week the mood has lifted significantly on Wearside as Sunderland secured four points from a possible six, with two clean sheets to boot, against promotion-hopefuls Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion. The Black Cats are evidently resigned to a mid-table finish this season with the campaign petering out, however in the last week there have been some very encouraging signs for the supporters to cling onto as the season limps to a less than dramatic close.

As such, the focus from the fanbase turns to the coming summer and next season, with positive signs to take from the two quality away performances which bring optimism regarding the Black Cats promotion push next term.

Pembele promise

Former PSG full-back Timothee Pembele made his first start for the club since his summer switch against Leeds, and the Frenchman was rewarded for his solid display with another feature in the starting eleven at The Hawthorns. The 21-year-old penned a five-year deal on Wearside on last summer’s deadline day, but injuries have blighted his first season at Sunderland as he recovered from a long-term ACL injury which kept him out of action for the French champions for much of last season.

Despite the long road back to full fitness, the promising youngster has shown his qualities over the last two outings, with assured performances at right-wing back both in terms of defensive qualities as well as offering a threat going forwards. He was substituted in both fixtures which does show that interim boss Mike Dodds is being careful regarding his fitness, but there are promising signs that Pembele can kick on next term and build on his displays of late.

Also, with fellow full-back Niall Huggins set to miss a good portion of next season sidelined, the former French youth international will be looking to compete with Trai Hume to cement the right full-back position as his with the season dwindling down heading into the summer.

Five at the back has merit

Formerly dubbed as a negative set-up, Dodds has shown that the three and five at the back systems do have merit in certain situations for Sunderland, despite their being the insistence from the hierarchy to more often than not opt for the customary four at the back.

In the draw at Elland Road and Albion win, the Black Cats have defended with three centre-halves in the form of Hume, Dan Ballard in the centre, and Luke O’Nien on the left of the three - with Pembele on the right and Callum Styles on the left. With the full-backs pushing forward, with the freedom to drift inside or hug the touchline, Sunderland looked assured in defence but also offered the threat going forward while employing this system.

Having an extra man at the back made Sunderland look far more assured and safe, especially in wake of the Blackburn Rovers drumming, and this pragmatic approach has long been labelled as something Sunderland need to implement to win games. Although, as Dodds alluded to post-Albion that the display was more about the result than the performance, it shows this young side do have the discipline to defend solidly against the top teams when needed.

Styles puts himself in contention

Callum Styles’ loan switch from Barnsley in January has coincided unfortunately with the downturn in form and results for the Black Cats. And as such, he hasn’t been given a fair crack of the whip to suggest why Sunderland should make his move permanent beyond the summer.

The Hungarian has looked far better in the left full-back role, especially at West Brom as he drifted in towards the centre of the park and pushed forward, offering much-needed support for star man Jack Clarke and aided the Black Cats’ attack. Versatility was the notion sporting director Kristjaan Speakman highlighted when Styles joined in January, and his ability to play centrally as he has done at international level for Hungary, and out on the left would be a welcome boost to lighten the load in the centre of the park - and as potential cover for left-back’s Aji Alese and Dennis Cirkin as they both have been hampered by injuries this term.

Styles will be hoping to impress more and build on his last two performances to fully convince the hierarchy of his worth in a red-and-white shirt, but given their long-standing interest in the Tykes man, the 24-year-old’s deal could likely be made permanent.

Rigg feels fans’ love

There was an unseen moment the camera missed in the wake of The Albion win, as 16-year-old starlet Chris Rigg felt the love from the packed-out away end, with the travelling fans in high spirits as they sang his new chant, with the youngster looking on in awe as he applauded. He touched the Sunderland badge on his chest and fist-pumped the crowd, in not only an emotional moment for the England youth star, but hopefully as a subtle indication that he will stay on Wearside for years to come.

With much mentioned about his family being of a black-and-white persuasion, and as the Sunderland Echo revealed in February that some of Europe’s elite clubs are monitoring the Hebburn-born midfielder, this small touch goes a long way to settling some supporter’s nerves about his future.

Ekwah back to his best

Pierre Ekwah rose from an unknown entity to one of the Championship’s best young midfield talents last term under Tony Mowbray, with his move from the Hammers seeming like a stroke of genius from the Sunderland hierarchy. The French youth international showed no signs of haltering his form in the early stages of this season - but an injury against QPR in September seemed to derail his campaign entirely.

Since his return from that knock, he has failed to recreate consistently his dazzling best, but his match-winning display at The Hawthorns highlighted that he is back to his marauding best. Dominating the middle of the park with ease and dictating play, with Dodds saying post-match he is adding the necessary focus into his game after his step-up from under-23s football at The Hammers, the 22-year-old should find his best form to date next term.