Sunderland's Wilson Isidor Calls Team Special After Thrilling 3-2 Victory Against Middlesbrough

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Wilson Isidor praised Sunderland's current squad as exceptional following their thrilling 3-2 victory over Middlesbrough on Monday. This win marked Sunderland's first league double over Boro since the 1961-62 season and brought them within three points of second-placed Sheffield United. Delano Burgzorg gave Middlesbrough an early lead, but Sunderland equalised through a deflected Dan Neil strike.

Isidor put Sunderland ahead shortly after halftime, showing composure before scoring past Mark Travers. Hayden Hackney, who assisted the first goal, equalised for Middlesbrough with a powerful shot. However, Ryan Giles' own goal from Enzo Le Fee's cross sealed the win for Sunderland just three minutes from time.

Isidor has bounced back impressively after missing two penalties against Burnley earlier this month, which he described as the worst day of his life. Since then, he has scored three goals in four Championship matches and recently signed a new contract with Sunderland until 2028.

"We really wanted to win and take six points from them because it's important in our title race," Isidor told ITV Sport after the match. He expressed gratitude towards the fans for their support, saying it made signing a new contract easy. "I love being here and my team-mates," he added.

At halftime, Sunderland's coach emphasised the need to match Middlesbrough's aggression and play more vertically. Isidor stated his ambition to score ten goals this season and highlighted the team's desire for promotion. "This group is special, and so is the coach," he said.

Middlesbrough's Performance

Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough side narrowly missed out on a point despite creating several chances. They had an expected goals (xG) total of 1.32 from 12 shots and controlled 52.7% possession but were undone by bad luck at the end.

"It's very tough to take in those circumstances," Carrick told Sky Sports. He acknowledged their strong start and felt they deserved more from the game. "The deflected goal... George [Edmundson] has tried to get in the way of it," he explained.

Looking Ahead

Middlesbrough will aim to bounce back when they face Chris Wilder's Blades at Bramall Lane in nine days' time. Despite their disappointment on Monday, they remain just outside the play-off places and will look to improve their fortunes in upcoming matches.