SAFC v Forest in Spain

safc

Neil pleased with pre-season progress

Dan Neil is happy with the progress made so far in pre-season following Sunderland AFC’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest on Friday, but admitted there are still plenty of improvements to be made ahead of the new campaign.

Jack Clarke put the Black Cats ahead on 39 minutes when he converted his second penalty of pre-season following Murillo’s foul on Chris Rigg.

The 17-year-old seized upon a loose pass from the Forest backline before being hacked down as he powered into the 18-yard box, and speaking to safc.com post-match, Neil opened up on the Lads’ new tactical approach under Régis Le Bris’ guidance.

“We have been working really hard on it,” he said.

“The gaffer has got a way of playing that he wants us to play - no matter who it is against.

“We are trying to implement it every single day whether that in or out of possession so it was good to test it today against really good opposition and it will stand us in really good stead for the rest of pre-season.”

The gaffer has got a way of playing that he wants us to play - no matter who it is against.

Omar Richards levelled shortly after half-time break for Nuno Espírito Santo’s side as both sides made a host of changes.

But Le Bris’ side will be the ones who feel aggrieved not to have won it later on after Nazariy Rusyn headed over from six yards in the 86th minute.

“It was a good game against a Premier League opposition,” Neil continued.

“It was what we needed at this stage of pre-season. The friendlies last week were good and we have stepped up the level of opposition so it was a good run out.

“We got what we needed fitness-wise out of it. There are still little things we can tweak from the tactical side but it was a good run out.

“It was really, really hot. It was tough but that is why you come out here to play and train in these types of conditions.

“It is a bit of a slog sometimes but we will feel a lot better for it when we get back to England next week and we get into more pre-season games and training - and the start of the season starts coming closer.”

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'Dangerous' Sunderland man hailed after Nottingham Forest display, he 'makes a huge difference'

Luke Phelps

Sunderland took on Premier League Nottingham Forest in a pre-season friendly in Spain on Friday, drawing 1-1.

Sunderland continued their pre-season preparations with a game vs Nottingham Forest in Spain on Friday.

Jack Clarke scored from the spot to leave Sunderland with one win, one draw, and one defeat from their opening three pre-season friendlies.

The Black Cats take on Eldense on Sunday before returning to the UK for friendly fixtures vs Blackpool and Bradford City, then playing Marseille on August 3rd ahead of their Championship opener on August 10th vs Cardiff City.

New head coach Regis Le Bris will be eager to try out shapes and styles before the season gets underway.

He’ll also be eager to have a look at different players in different positions, with Sunderland having a lot of competition for certain spots in the side.

In the full-back departments, there’s a lot of competition for starting spots, especially at left-back when everyone is fit.

It was Dennis Cirkin who started vs Forest, and he managed to impress.

‘Dangerous’ Dennis Cirkin hailed after Sunderland draw vs Nottingham Forest

Cirkin started on the left of a back-four, in what appeared to be a 4-2-3-1 formation with Eliezer Mayenda the lone striker once again.

Numerous injuries meant that Cirkin missed the vast majority of last season, featuring just eight times in the Championship and failing to feature at all in 2024.

But he’s fit again and playing again. Sunderland Echo rated his performance v Forest as 7/10, with journalist Phil Smith writing:

“Tried a little in the second half but stuck at it and was a real threat throughout the first half.

“Made some dangerous driving runs – makes a huge difference to the balance to the side when he’s able to play.

“Very encouraging even if there’s clearly lots more to come.”

Why Dennis Cirkin will be key for Regis Le Bris at Sunderland

With Dan Ballard injured, Aji Alese looks set to play in centre-back, as he did vs Forest, potentially leaving Cirkin as the starting left-back and Leo Hjelde as back up, with Niall Huggins injured.

So there’s a real chance for Cirkin to get some minutes in this summer and hit the ground running when the new season starts.

He was showing a lot of promise and improvement before his injury, so he’ll be eager to get back out in the Championship and get back on a positive track.

Like Smith says, he brings balance and stability to the side, which wasn’t always evident last season with the defence and full-backs often changing.

If Cirkin stays fit, he could be one of the first names on the team sheet most weeks.

I was at the Coventry game at the start of last season - he was best player on the pitch by a country mile that day.