Lost possession 19x: £5.3k-p/w flop who lost 86% duels may've just cost SAFC promotion - opinion

Having sacked manager Lee Johnson this week after a humiliating 6-0 defeat at Bolton, Sunderland fans were looking for a reaction as their side hosted bottom club Doncaster Rovers in today’s League One clash.

The Black Cats are still in the hunt for automatic promotion and would’ve fancied their chances against lowly Rovers, despite being under the interim charge of Mike Dodds and going into the match off the back of a thrashing in Lancashire.

However, the Wearside club’s predicament worsened as they lost 2-1 to the Yorkshire outfit, thus loosening their grip on the automatic promotion places.

It was a poor performance from all involved for Sunderland, but midfielder Elliot Embleton was particularly disappointing.

According to SofaScore, the 22-year-old failed to produce a single key pass or complete either a cross or a long ball, whilst losing 86% of his duels. Moreover, the attacking midfielder made 44 touches whilst losing possession on 19 occasions, an average of losing the ball once every 2.3 touches.

There was little attacking output from any of Sunderland’s forwards, with veteran striker Jermain Defoe making his second Black Cats debut as he came on in the 72nd minute in place of Embleton.

The £5.3k-per week 22-year-old managed just one shot (which hit the woodwork) whilst failing to contribute in helping to defend against Doncaster’s goals, offering no tackles, interceptions, blocks or clearances.

Embleton, a former youth player at the Stadium of Light, has been a regular for the Black Cats this season after returning from his loan spell at Blackpool last term.

The 22-year-old has made 30 appearances in all competitions in the current campaign, scoring four goals and contributing five assists, and he is an