VIDEO: How stylish Sunderland went about demolishing sloppy Southampton

If you are looking for something new to sate your football needs over the international break then we have just the thing for you to sink your teeth into.

We have teamed up with the brilliant SAFCHighlights to take a closer look at Sunderland this season, and it couldn't have been a nicer week to start.

As the Championship entered the fifth week of fixtures, Sunderland played hosts to a frightening Southampton who dominate the league in possession, pressing and Passes Per Defensive Action (PPDA) by some distance.

Sunderland aren’t too shabby in some of these metrics themselves, but this was set to be a true test after the clean sheet at Coventry.

What transpired was not the fierce battle for possession that fans and Russell Martin might have expected.

Instead, Tony Mowbray and his staff did the unexpected. Sunderland sat back and accepted the Saint’s strengths; but this was a Rope-a-Dope from wily old Tone.

As Southampton rushed to regain the ball in advanced areas, Sunderland escaped the press and repeatedly hit high wide wingers to get in behind and flood players up field.

Southampton were shell-shocked to start with, but Russell Martin is well known for persevering with Plan A, and they didn’t blink in their efforts.

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Gradually as the match unfolded it became clear to all present that we were witnessing a murder. It was a tactical masterclass from Tony Mowbray.

With the Burnley comeback from last year firmly imprinted on the memory of many, there was to be no let-up from Sunderland right to the final whistle.

So check out ‘The Killing of Southampton’ video and enjoy seeing just how Tony Mowbray dismantled Southampton and sent the Saints to Hell.

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