Sunderland 3-1 Norwich: Paddy Davitt Championship marks

• George Long             5

Parried a low Pierre Ekwah strike from long range that bounced up in front of him in the 11th minute. Adjudged to get a touch to Jack Clarke’s curler that clipped the outside of the post.

Deceived by Shane Duffy’s deflection six yards out from Trai Hume’s sidefoot from outside the area. Stuck up a hand to tip over Clarke’s rising effort at his near post.

Another parry to his left at full stretch from Ekwah’s effort. Woeful protection from his team mates for the second home goal, and later beaten from the spot by Clarke.

• Kellen Fisher                6

A Championship debut against the division’s top scorer at kick-off. Quite a challenge. But stuck to his task and showcased his attacking instincts when he collected Adam Forshaw’s pass to hare away on the overlap, and display the awareness to guide it back into Hwang Ui-Jo’s path for the opener.

Nervy header intended for George Long conceded an early corner. Diving block tackle on Clarke prevented the cross. Jumped out of the defensive line to try and press, but Clarke was left unattended to unleash a shot against a post.

Excellent sense of danger to clear a dangerous low cross on the edge of his own six yard box in the 36th minute. Took Clarke the other way in first half stoppage time to earn a free kick.

• Shane Duffy              3

Two poor pieces of decision-making from such an experienced player led to two Sunderland goals. Lunged at Hume’s effort, but merely diverted the shot beyond Long via his left knee from the middle of his six yard box.

Then dispossessed by the razor sharp Clarke, who committed Kenny McLean and went down before slotting the match-sealing penalty. Key early block from Hume snapshot. Left a calling card on Jobe Bellingham in the 20th minute.

Got his body between the attacker and the ball to shield it back to Long shortly after the interval with Sunderland starting on the front foot.

• Ben Gibson                4

Hooked in a late throw of the dice from Wagner that saw McLean re-deployed. Booming punt controlled by Hwang who in turn fed Jon Rowe but he rolled the ball out of play.

Ponderous in the 28th minute when he was closed down by Nazarly Ruskin. Second half unable to control McLean’s diagonal switch, and then his attempt to bring the ball under control saw it roll out of play.

• Dimi Giannoulis      4

Let Dan Neil drive inside him to collect Clarke’s perfectly-weighted ball to lift over the advancing Long. Clearly Wagner’s containment policy curbed his attacking instincts for the most part.

Bar a deep cross in the 59th minute that saw Christian Fassnacht climb above his marker but head against a post.

• Kenny McLean ©                   4

Started in central midfield. Finished in central defence. Hung out a leg and Clarke needed little invitation to expose him when he tumbled in the area for a Sunderland penalty. Chip for Rowe after excellent closing down from Hwang ran through to the home keeper.

Then pulled away from his marker for a pre-planned free kick routine with Gabby Sara that ended with him clubbing it out of play. Raking crossfield ball picked out Fisher, but Fassnacht’s sloppy touch brought a promising counter to a halt.

• Gabby Sara                4

On his heels when Clarke threaded a ball through to Neil. Underlining yet again the defensive side of his duties are not his forte. Hauled down Patrick Roberts after Rowe had lost the ball with Giannoulis out of position.

A minute from the interval went for the first time hit, after a sweet exchange with Rowe, before McLean elected for a bicycle kick with Hwang free on the edge of the area.

• Adam Forshaw    4

Started in a midfield five out of possession but appeared to be the most advanced in support of Hwang going the other way. Threaded the ball for Kellen Fisher to overlap and pick out Hwang. Early throughball first time for

Hwang but Anthony Patterson’s starting position swept up in front of the striker.

Replaced at the interval by Marcelino Nunez. Slow on the turn when Clarke drifted between him and Fassnacht to pick out Neil.

• Christian Fassnacht         4

Best moment by some distance was the header against the outside of the far post just before the hour mark. Looked laboured in his movement to let Clarke drift infield for the second goal. Clip on the same player earned him an early booking.

Did show for Rowe before cutting infield and letting fly from the edge of the area.

• Hwang Ui-Jo                6

First goal for Norwich with a clinical slot from 16 yards he swept into the bottom corner from Fisher’s cutback. Dropped Ben Gibson’s booming punt off for Rowe, who tried to commit his man but rolled the ball out of play.

Excellent chasing of Niall Huggins worked a chance for McLean, who went for a high tariff intended chip for Rowe. Excellent first time pass accurately whipped out to Fisher.

Wrong decision in the 66th minute to unleash a rising shot from the edge with Borja Sainz better positioned.

Did link with the Spainard from a later breakout that ended with a Nunez shot blocked.

• Jon Rowe                 5

Bright in Norwich’s sporadic moments on the counter in the first half. Harried Hume into a turnover but Patterson grasped his cutback. Slaloming run across the penalty area before the awareness to shovel the ball on for Fassnacht to sky over.

Subs

• Marcelino Nunez (for Forshaw, 45)               4

One late snapshot from a Sainz counter.

• Onel Hernandez (for Fassnacht, 62)            4

Cut back inside two but his shot was blocked minutes after his arrival. Then squared up Huggins but Patterson got down low to parry.

• Borja Sainz (for Rowe, 62)                   4

Raced through the centre of the pitch on a breakout but opted to check onto his right and link with Hwang, who fed Nunez, but the Chilean’s shot was blocked. Needed Hwang to slip him through when he took up a decent shooting chance just inside the area 10 minutes earlier.

• Jack Stacey (for Fisher, 74)                4

• Adam Idah (for Gibson, 74)                 4