I last saw Sunderland play in February, at the Macron, when we lost 1-0 in a dire and dreary game. Things have changed since then, not least the playing squad. In fact, in my three previous games I’d seen twenty-eight players starting, and the Charlton game was to add another eight. The only three I’d seen previously were Love, against Watford in December 2016, Matthews, at Preston almost a year ago, and Honeyman, whom I’d seen alongside Matthews and again at Bolton.

So many changes explains my inability to recognise players; these things take time. Three different managers and inept performances explain my inability to recognise the system(s) they adopted. Patterns and interplay you might have come to expect pass me by completely, I don’t know who fits where; everything is new.

Taken all together it explains why I find it difficult to give a minute by minute or player by player commentary. But you’ve already had Pete Sixsmith’s report, and Malcolm’s introduction. You don’t need anything along those lines from me, even if I could emulate Pete. What I’ll try to do instead is give you a different perspective and write about the players who stuck out, for good or bad.

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