It looks like Simms’ return to action was viewed very positively by Sunderland fans and reports of the game :
When Simms was introduced at Kenilworth Road with 20 minutes to go, Sunderland immediately looked rather menacing. Within minutes he’d seen a shot blocked and then only a brilliant goal-line block from Amari’i Bell kept Jack Clarke from whipping the rebound home.
on
And Simms was only on the field for seven minutes when Sunderland leveled when Sub Elliot Embleton tucked away Clarke’s cutback and while he wasn’t directly involved his presence had caused an additional headache for the Luton defence.
Sunderland had chances of victory in the final ten minutes when Simms blocked another try while fellow sub Patrick Roberts fired a shot just wide of the post. The second goal didn’t come for the visitors, meaning they had to settle for a point, but it was Simms’ return that made the bigger picture.
Simms isn’t ready to start games just yet, but provided he survives that 20-minute appearance unscathed, there’s a chance of a longer spell out at Huddersfield midweek and perhaps more minutes in next weekend’s home game against Cardiff City. Sunderland had done well against Luton even before Simms came on.
But it was Simms’ arrival that made all the difference and showed what Sunderland have been lacking in the last six weeks. Had either he or top scorer Ross Stewart been available, Sunderland would not have been 16th in the table.
When Simms was introduced at Kenilworth Road with 20 minutes to go, Sunderland immediately looked rather menacing. Within minutes he’d seen a shot blocked and then only a brilliant goal-line block from Amari’i Bell kept Jack Clarke from whipping the rebound home.
on
And Simms was only on the field for seven minutes when Sunderland leveled when Sub Elliot Embleton tucked away Clarke’s cutback and while he wasn’t directly involved his presence had caused an additional headache for the Luton defence.
Sunderland had chances of victory in the final ten minutes when Simms blocked another try while fellow sub Patrick Roberts fired a shot just wide of the post. The second goal didn’t come for the visitors, meaning they had to settle for a point, but it was Simms’ return that made the bigger picture.
Simms isn’t ready to start games just yet, but provided he survives that 20-minute appearance unscathed, there’s a chance of a longer spell out at Huddersfield midweek and perhaps more minutes in next weekend’s home game against Cardiff City. Sunderland had done well against Luton even before Simms came on.
But it was Simms’ arrival that made all the difference and showed what Sunderland have been lacking in the last six weeks. Had either he or top scorer Ross Stewart been available, Sunderland would not have been 16th in the table.
