It was certainly an afternoon to forget for on-loan Leeds United defender Laurens De Bock in Sunderland’s devasting 2-0 defeat at Lincoln City on Saturday.
The Belgian left-back had earnt some decent reviews since breaking into Jack Ross’ side for the Black Cats’ recent Carabao Cup victory over Premier League Sheffield United. However, he suffered what Sunderland legend and Radio Newcastle pundit Gary Bennett described as a ‘torrid’ afternoon at Sincil Bank, unable to cope with Lincoln’s Portuguese winger Bruno Andrade who produced a tremendous performance on the Imps right wing.
Both Lincoln goals came from De Bock’s side of the defence, but he was found notably lacking in the twenty-minutes after half-time, conceding a penalty after a desperate foul on Andrade and then not being tight enough on the tricky winger for Lincoln’s second, allowing him time and space to pick out Tyler Walker for the Imps second.
Jack Ross had seen enough and hooked De Bock soon after, probably to the relief of the twenty-six-year-old who simply couldn’t cope with Lincoln’s star man.
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De Bock had a nightmare but then so did most of the Sunderland side who looked flat and disinterested for most of the match.
However, De Bock simply couldn’t cope with Lincoln’s dangerman, particularly in the crucial twenty-minute period after half-time and was deservedly subbed for Will Grigg as Ross looked to chase the game.
He should not feel too bad, he’s not the first and won’t be the last full-back suffering a roasting at the hands of Andrade this season.
