Gibson was making his ninth Sunderland appearance since signing from Everton.
Sunderland manager David Moyes
Signing a bunch of players who were good for a mid-table Premier League side four years ago was never the most foolproof of plans.
But that was the primary approach adopted by Sunderland boss David Moyes throughout the past two transfer windows, albeit perhaps as a result of the severe financial constraints imposed on him.
Five of Moyes’ ex-Everton favourites, Steven Pienaar, Victor Anichebe, Joleon Lescott, Bryan Oviedo and Darron Gibson, were reunited with the Scot at the Stadium of Light in moves that have been more miss than hit so far.
Sunderland’s Darron Gibson
In particular, Gibson, who despite playing a mere 24 minutes of football for Everton’s first team this season, has started seven of Sunderland’s first 10 league fixtures since his arrival, only failing to appear in one.
Wednesday’s defeat to Middlesbrough, which left the Mackems all but consigned to relegation, was the Irishman’s eighth in row without a win for his new employers, and his performance drew a strong response on social media afterwards – with one supporter calling him the most pointless footballer he’s seen at Sunderland in years.
Which players should Sunderland keep next season?
Sunderland fans take to their seats
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