Sunderland could axe Ekwah by unleashing their 7/10 “genius” instead

Even though Mike Dodds was initially seen as a breath of fresh air when Michael Beale’s miserable reign was ended, he has been unable to inspire Sunderland since returning as an interim manager.

Should Sunderland suffer another heartbreaking defeat to Southampton tonight, the 37-year-old interim Black Cats manager will have lost four out of the last four games. Championship games back in the dug-out with the Wearside outfit, sinking down the division at a worrying pace consequently.

However, a successful outcome might dramatically reverse the club’s fortunes, and Dodds would be frantically trying to figure out what adjustments he could make to start a winning streak that could begin with a victory versus Russell Martin’s Saints.

Since Pierre Ekwah, a former West Ham United player, was not present at the races during his team’s 1-0 midweek loss to Leicester City, he may be cut loose in order to make room for new players tomorrow.

Pierre Ekwah’s performance vs Leicester in numbers

The exciting 22-year-old midfielder underwhelmed against Enzo Maresca’s Foxes in truth, with the Frenchman failing to register a single shot on Mads Hermansen’s goal to try to add more goals to his season tally of four.

Moreover, Ekwah wouldn’t deliver a single accurate cross or complete a single dribble in the 1-0 defeat as the hosts – away from just the Sunderland number 39 in isolation – failed to ever really cut through the table-topping visitors with much purpose or drive.

Dodds could be tempted to stick by Ekwah regardless of his poor showing last match considering his heroics the last time the Black Cats faced off against Southampton.

The ex-Hammers youngster bagged two goals on the day as Sunderland romped home to a 5-0 win at the Stadium of Light, the Mackems’ only win against their tricky South Coast opponents from the last five meetings between the two former Premier League outfits.

Regardless, Ekwah shouldn’t be retained off his poor showing against Leicester alone with Adil Aouchiche champing at the bit to come in and impress over his fellow compatriot after an impactful cameo off the bench against the Foxes.

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