THIS time, there was no slip-up. Having failed to beat Plymouth and Watford despite being the dominant side for most of their previous two home games, Sunderland finally rediscovered their ruthless streak as they saw off a struggling Luton side that look destined for League One.
True, the Black Cats were far from their fluent best, but the defensive lapses that had proved so costly in each of their last two home outings were thankfully absent. As a result, Enzo Le Fee’s first goal in a Sunderland shirt and Wilson Isidor’s 11th goal of an increasingly successful season were sufficient to secure a victory that keeps Regis Le Bris’ side in the thick of the battle for automatic promotion.
Le Fee is their trump card, and having done just about everything else in his first few weeks in English football, the Roma loanee broke his goalscoring duck to cap another impressive individual display. It isn’t quite a case of ‘Give Le Fee the ball and see what happens’, but there were times last night when it felt like it wasn’t far off.
The Frenchman was involved in Sunderland’s second goal, delivering the pass that led to Luton midfielder Lamine Fanne inadvertently setting up Isidor, and gave Hatters right-back Reuell Walters a torrid night. As Luke Ayling can attest from earlier in the month at the Riverside, Walters is far from the only full-back to have suffered at the hands of Le Fee since his January arrival on Wearside.
While Le Fee was the standout performer yet again, Sunderland were collectively the better side by a considerable margin, although their early dominance went unrewarded when Isidor side-footed wide from an unmarked position in the 18-yard box.
However, the the Black Cats did not have to wait long for their opener. Trai Hume started the move, darting infield from the right-hand side in order to feed the ball into Le Fee, but in truth, the goal was all about Sunderland’s mercurial French midfielder.
Breaking in from the flank before rolling the ball onto his right foot, Le Fee curled a superb low finish into the far corner. It was a fine first goal for the Roma loanee, capping a fine first month in English football.
Sunderland spent most of the rest of the night in command of proceedings, although while Le Fee continued to produce moments of brilliance on the left-hand side – one jinking run into the penalty area midway through the first half was especially easy on the eye – Wilson Isidor often himself isolated in the 18-yard box.
Chris Rigg forced a decent save from Thomas Kaminski with a well-struck shot, but despite the obvious limitations that have seen them plunge into the Championship relegation zone following last season’s demotion from the top-flight, Luton remained in the game and almost claimed what would have been a surprise equaliser shortly after the half-hour mark.
Carlton Morris outjumped the Black Cats defence to meet a right-wing free-kick with a downward header, but Anthony Patterson did superbly to touch the ball onto the base of the post.
The incident seemed to energise Luton, and Hume produced an important block at the start of the second half as he closed down a shot from Zack Nelson.
An increasingly edgy Sunderland needed the security of a second goal, and it arrived in somewhat fortuitous circumstances just before the hour mark.
Luton midfielder Lamine Fanne stretched out a leg to cut out Le Fee’s attempted pass to Jobe Bellingham, but only managed to prod the ball towards Isidor, who had progressed into the 18-yard box. Turning deftly, the forward swept a clinical low finish past Kaminski to make it six goals in his last ten games.
Sunderland almost added a third goal when Patrick Roberts danced his way into the 18-yard box before curling against the far post, but unlike in some of their recent outings, the hosts were able to see things out with no late alarms.
