Stats prove Liam Bridcutt right; Sunderland shouldn’t have sanctioned Leeds United exit

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Sunderland barely gave Bridcutt a chance but he’s making up for lost time at Leeds United.

Sunderland’s loss is very much Leeds United’s gain.

When Liam Bridcutt departed the Stadium of Light after two distinctly unsuccessful seasons in the North East, it was easy to forget that this was the same player that had once dominated Championship midfields with Brighton and Hove Albion, a tigerish, tenacious presence coveted by a number of Premier League teams, The Chronicle reports.

And, although injuries have impeded his first permanent season at Leeds United after a loan spell at Elland Road last season, Bridcutt is starting to recapture the form that earned him that step up to the top flight in the first place.

While Sunderland seem to be crying out for a leader, the 27-year-old is now captain of an overachieving squad fighting to potentially take The Black Cats’ place in the top flight.

“I think that the spell that I did have in the Premier League, in the games that I did play I think I did well,” Bridcutt told The Chronicle, expressing a degree of confusion towards the fact he only featured 30 times in the Premier League.

And the stats speak for themselves. Garry Monk’s solid, well-drilled Leeds have conceded less than a goal a game on average this season with Bridcutt adding grit to the midfield. Sunderland, meanwhile, have conceded almost two goals per 90 minutes.

While the cynics will point to the fact that Bridcutt is plying his trade at a level below, the fact is that Sunderland are crying out for a midfielder with the former Chelsea youngster’s energy and tenacity.

And wouldn’t it be poetic if Bridcutt’s hard-as-nails approach was to help Leeds return to the top flight while soft-bellied Sunderland dropped into the Championship?

He’s right. They should have given him more of a chance.