' Dion Sanderson '

A big learning curve for Dion

By Glen Williams

Monday 13th July 2020

There's no two ways about it, Dion Sanderson has been a revelation since joining the club on loan from Wolves back in January.

He has added dynamism to the Bluebirds attack and has been excellent in employing a sort of scramble defence when rushing back towards his own goal.

I genuinely think this guy, still just 20, incredibly, will be a top footballer in the years to come.

But he is subjected to the harsh scrutiny of top-level football, having played his trade largely for Wolves' youth sides up until now, and his eyes will certainly be opened by it all.

Neil Harris has shown incredible trust in him and rightly so, he has earned that right-back spot, grabbed the shirt and run with it.

But, against undoubtedly the best striker in the division, there was the first real indication that he still has a lot to learn.

Aleksandar Mitrovic is a top striker and some might feel that the penalty decision was soft (more on that later), but, in reality, Sanderson gave the referee a decision to make.

It was probably six of one and half a dozen of the other, Mitrovic was clever in how he drew the contact and in his histrionics when he fell, but it did all look a little clumsy and the penalty put City behind the eight ball.

He was just a little frazzled after that, ceding possession and looking a little uncertain of himself, which is uncharacteristic given he has been a player who has been brimming with confidence since his move.

But the above point, about squad rotation, also applies here.

This is a highly-pressurised scenario, one which Sanderson will never have experienced before, and he is very much learning on the job.

Given Jazz Richards has now left the club, Sanderson is the only natural choice at right back, meaning he will certainly have a big part to play in the remaining three games.

He was hooked at half-time against Fulham, and that was definitely a decision Harris got right, taking him out of the firing line, and Leandro Bacuna actually did well in that position.

But Sanderson has been so central to the impressive City attack down the right-hand side in recent months and Bluebirds fans, who certainly appreciate the tremendous work he has done so far, hope he can find that spark once again next week.

That last sentence. Key to the attack. Shame he can't defend!

That last sentence. Key to the attack. Shame he can't defend!

Exactly. There has been so much hype about him and yet I think he has been a liability in a few games. No doubt he is a good athlete but not convinced he is a footballer.