Sunderland played out perhaps the maddest game of the English Football League season so far on Saturday, and fans are furious with two summer signings – Jack Baldwin and Tom Flanagan.
The Black Cats suffered a big setback in the race for automatic promotion on Saturday. While they lost 5-4 at home to Coventry, each of Barnsley, Portsmouth, Charlton and Doncaster picked up three points.
And Jack Ross’ side can have no complaints about the result, as their defending throughout the afternoon was nothing short of abysmal.
Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals why Tyne-Wear is a more intense derby than anything London can offer – check out the video below….
Bright Enobakhare opened the scoring before George Honeyman levelled, but goals from Amadou Bakayoko and Jordy Hiwula made it 3-1 to the visitors, with the latter strike deflecting in off Baldwin.
Charlie Wyke and Will Grigg both got on the scoresheet from close range to level things up again, only for Jordan Shipley and Max Power to trade goals and make it 4-4.
Finally, Conor Chaplin provided the decisive strike after a mistake from Flanagan.
Unsurprisingly after conceding five goals at home, fans are slamming the two centre backs, both of whom were signed by Ross last summer.
You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, look away now Jack and Tom…
Hope I never see Baldwin & Flanagan in the Sunderland shirt ever again
— Adam Craven (@Adamcravenn) April 13, 2019
Think promotion is still in our hands but we need to be better. I hope today puts an end to Baldwin/Flanagan and 4-4-2. Give Dunne or Ozturk a go #SAFC
— Phil Catcherside (@pjcatcherside1) April 13, 2019
Jack Baldwin and Tom Flanagan watching a striker run through on goal pic.twitter.com/wpTk9tCVOS
— Jamie Bell (@jamiebelllll) April 13, 2019
Leadbitter very poor and a wasted signing
Flanagan and Baldwin from the first ten games to now is just astonishing
Grigg has been a massive waste and either isn’t fit or just not the right man for the job
Cannot play leadbitter and power in a 2 like… #safc— Joe Stuart (@joseph00stuart) April 13, 2019
Plz, Jack Ross don’t play Baldwin and Flanagan again ever. O’Nien not a defender and looks lost, warning signs against Burton not acted upon. Not sure about Dunne and Osturk but defensively we’re ??we we’re lucky today that it wasn’t 7 or 8!!!
— Marco’s quadriceps?⚪️?⚪️ (@pieman2pieship) April 13, 2019
Imagine the Flanagan-Baldwin partnership against @SkyBetChamp attackers??♂️
— Jack Waldron (@waldron1994) April 13, 2019
Baldwin & Flanagan wouldn’t look out of place in a Sunday league team
— Scott Cooper (@scottSAFCcooper) April 13, 2019
Baldwin and Flanagan were absolutely shocking today
— Chris Hogg (@chris28hogg) April 13, 2019