Sunderland 1-0 Shrewsbury Town: Player Ratings

Jordan Pickford - 7

Pickford is a very good goalkeeper - I don't need to tell anyone that - but tonight he showed just why and how he can offer us something completely different. Our goal came from one of his kicks, an attack which was started when Pickford's long punt fell to Duncan Watmore. Vito Mannone might be injured, but I am not worried.

Patrick Van Aanholt - 7

Patrick had absolutely nothing to deal with from the Shrewsbury right hand side but he was a threat all night down the left and created some decent opportunities.

Jack Rodwell - 6

It was a fairly cushy night for Rodwell at the back as he had very little to do other than keep everyone organised. Solid enough.

Papy Djilobodji - 6

Like his partner at the back, Papy had a quiet evening but it's good for him to get another ninety minutes under his belt - he'll be a huge part of David Moyes' plans going forward.

Donald Love - 1

He gets a one for his effort, because one thing you cannot fault him on is his work rate. Unfortunately, he just isn't very good. He needs to be taken out of the limelight, and quick, though I struggle to understand how Josh Robson hasn't been given a chance when Love is clearly nowhere near up to playing for our first team yet.

Paddy McNair - 2

Completely anonymous. I'd be tempted to play him somewhere else other than midfield, because we'll get tortured most weeks if we play him in the middle.

Steven Pienaar - 7

Clearly Pienaar is still a class player, even if he hasn't still got the legs. We kept the ball far better with him on the pitch and I don't think he lost it once. Good for his fitness for him to have played an hour and he'll no doubt start at the weekend against Southampton.

Lynden Gooch - 4

Lynden was busy but I think it showed tonight that he isn't really a central midfielder. He's picked up three yellow cards in three games and seemed to be trying a little too hard - he did however do very well to set off a chance where Van Aanholt pulled a ball back to Asoro who had his shot saved superbly.

Adnan Januzaj - 7

He was fairly quiet throughout but that one moment of quality decided the result of the game. He'll be a key player this season.

Wahbi Khazri - 2

Shockingly bad. Nothing he tried came off.

Joel Asoro - 7

He led the line superbly and had it not been for the Shrewsbury keeper he would have had two or three goals.

Duncan Watmore - 6

Came on for the last half an hour. Worked hard and played his part in the goal from Januzaj.

Man Of The Match - Jordan Pickford

It's pretty tough to select anyone really because it was such a poor performance but Pickford was the difference at both ends tonight. He made a tremendous save to deny Ivan Toney in the second half that would have more than likely seen us on the losing side, because at that point we never looked like scoring. Then, for our goal, he played a fantastic ball out of his hands which found Duncan Watmore and which eventually led to our goal.