Notes on Kim Bo-Kyung and Ki Sung-Yeung

It was an intense match as Jordon Mutch and Fraizer Campbell put the Cardiff City head with a 2-0 lead before Sunderland went back to save a point with Steven Fletcher and Jack Colback. It also was a clash between South Korean Internationals Kim Bo-Kyung and Ki Sung-Yeung. Caretaker manager David Kerslake fielded a 4-4-1-1 line up featuring Kim as attacking midfielder in support of centre forward Campbell. Gus Poyet opt to overload the middle of the pitch with a 5-man midfield featuring Ki in the centre alongside Seb Larsson with Lee Cattermole as deep-lying playmaker. Kim started well and produced a nice display during the first half. With Sunderland playing defensively, due to Cardiff’s strong start, but with no real holding midfielders protecting the flat four back line, Kim was able to find spaces between the lines providing some nice runs through the middle. He attempted 50 passes with a 82% of successful passes rate. The most part of those passes went in the middle and they were short passes. Kim attempted just 2 long passes and both were good. On the defensive phase of the game, Kim contributed with just one tackle but he made 3 interceptions and committed 4 fouls, being also booked. Cardiff were dominant throughout the first half and a Kim's shot from distance was tipped over the crossbar by Vito Mannone. Ki attempted 63 passes, with 94% of pass success rate. He played successfully 3 on 4 long balls while the others was all short passes. Of his short passes half were backwards or sideways with centre back Valentine Roberge and left-back Andrea Dossena as his preferred targets. He moved all over the pitch but was extremely quiet in the first half despite having Cattermole covering his back. He was too much passive offensively with the team controlling the ball. It took over a half for Sunderland to build a decent attack and get the initiative. Ki produced himself a shooting chance saved by goalkeeper David Marshall. With Cardiff ahead 2-0 and Sunderland in a nothing to lose mode, Poyet’s side produced his best effort to steal a point. So has done Ki who performed much better than he did in the first half. If Sunderland want to continue their run, they need to get Ki more involved in the final third. Ki’s ability to hold onto the ball in the middle of the park and to produce nice passes are pivotal for a team looking for quality up front. On the other side, Kim's movement and the skills he inserts into a game makes him an important player for his side. Toghether to Peter Witthingham they form a couple of good passers Cardiff need if they're looking for improved performances.