As well as Frenchman Enzo Le Fee, another Sunderland player looked solid in the showing against Burnley.
Sunderland drew 0-0 away at Burnley, with the Black Cats dominating for extended portions of the game.
Despite two glorious opportunities to break the deadlock from the spot, Wilson Isidor was unable to get his name on the scoresheet, prompting him to send a sorry letter to Black Cats fans shortly after the game.
The bright lining for Sunderland, who will feel as if the game’s outcome equals two points dropped against a rival promotion challenger, is that Enzo Le Fee made his debut and seemed to be a shining light despite being played out of position by Regis Le Bris.
Many Sunderland fans praised Le Fee after the game, but there was another midfielder who went unnoticed after his performance against Burnley, and he was certainly equivalent to the Frenchman.
Dan Neil deserves more plaudits after a positive Sunderland showing vs Burnley
Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil has gotten some criticism this season, which is often unfair given that he is frequently overshadowed by the excellent talents of Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg in the heart of the pitch.
However, the Sunderland captain deserved to be recognized for his role in the draw with Burnley, as he put on a ‘elegant’ performance, according to the Sunderland Echo.
The Black Cats player appeared very collected in the holding midfield position, which he was put into at the start of the season, but has responded by seizing the opportunity with both hands, and his performance against Burnley demonstrated how well he has accepted the role.
Dan Neil stats vs Burnley show the incredible difference he makes that goes under the radar
Neil, a Black Cats player, may not have been the most consistent player this season, which can sometimes be attributed to a little position change, but his stats this weekend indicated that he was on top form.
According to SofaScore, Neil had 62 touches and 39 accurate passes throughout his 90 minutes of play. He also made two vital passes in the game and appeared good defensively, winning seven of ten duels, making three clearances, and registering two tackles.
Neil does not always receive the credit he deserves, but his defensive qualities have improved significantly in recent years, and while this is an indication that Le Bris is getting the most out of his squad, it is also a reason to focus the spotlight on the Sunderland captain.
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