One Sunderland star surely deserves more of the plaudits after a brilliant showing vs Oxford United.
The Black Cats continued their incredible start to the 2024/25 Championship campaign as they saw off Oxford United at the Stadium of Light in dominant fashion.
Sunderland’s 2-0 victory saw many brilliant performances across Regis Le Bris’ side, with Wilson Isidor once again putting in a brilliant shift and bagging yet again another ‘wonderful’ goal taken with such class.
Jobe Bellingham also found the back of the net with a solid header to initially give the Black Cats the lead against Oxford United, and he was able to command the centre-of-the-park with such dominance and ease.
Whilst the English midfielder without a doubt deserves the amount of praise heaped on him after yet another solid showing for Le Bris’ side, there was another incredible showing for Sunderland, and one that Black Cats fans are becoming quite accustomed to seeing from him.
Sunderland star Chris Mepham deserves praise after incredible showing vs Oxford United
Loan signing Chris Mepham has been a revelation since he moved up to Wearside from Premier League outfit, and he was able to embody his skill in a solid showing previously against Hull City as his side kept a clean sheet, as well as against Luton Town.
Sunderland’s back four has been more than solid this season, and Mepham is certainly to thank for tightening up the side as on the defensive side he was yet again on form vs Oxford United, where, per SofaScore, he was not dribbled past on a single occasion, whilst also making a total tackles of three.
Mepham also shone in regards to the playmaking aspect of the side, with him tallying 97 touches and accumulating a brilliant 83 accurate passes out of an attempted 90.
Chris Mepham plays a perfect role in Regis Le Bris’ system
There is no doubting that the Bournemouth loanee was once again a ‘class above’, as said by Sunderland Echo, and the passing stats certainty point towards that statement.
The Black Cats defender is without a doubt a crucial part of Le Bris’ plans this season, and in the system that the French coach currently sets up, Mepham is one of the key figures that truly bring it to life.
In the transition from defence to attack, the Welsh international is the one who looks to play that progressive pass either into the feet of Bellingham or Chris Rigg to bring that ball forward and to action a deadly counter attack against the opposition.
There is plenty of worry over whether the defender could get recalled early from his current loan spell by parent club Bournemouth, but until then, Sunderland fans will be more than happy in getting used to the consistent and brilliant performances delivered by Mepham.
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