COLEMAN: IF WE FAIL TO SIGN A STRIKER WE’RE HEADING FOR
Chris in cry for help to stop the slump
CHRIS COLEMAN admits Sunderland will be in League One unless they sign a new striker.
The Black Cats produced a toothless attacking performance which leaves them bottom of the Championship and three points from safety.
“We know that this window is going to be huge for us. Up front is where we need to strengthen,” said
Coleman (right).
“It’s not a case of me hoping we sign someone – we’ve just got to do it.
“We need help in that department because we cannot put that type of pressure on young boys like Josh Maja and
Joel Asoro.
“They’ve done well, they’ve come on in games and made impacts, but starting with them is not realistic. “We need some support in that department and we are trying. Our chief executive Martin Bain is working his socks off to make something happen as quickly as we can.”
Sunderland capitulated after half-time on former Wales boss Coleman’s return to Cardiff City Stadium.
Callum Paterson opened the scoring for Cardiff 45 seconds after the restart. And after Didier Ndong was sent off for an over-the-ball challenge on Junior Hoilett, there was only going to be one result.
The excellent Joe Ralls made it 2-0 before Paterson’s second and a late Anthony Pilkington tap-in rubbed salt in Black Cats wounds. Coleman is on the lookout for new forwards but is prepared to lose Ndong, who has been linked with a move to Premier League Watford.
“We know Didier is on his way eventually. But I said to players who want to leave that if they are mentally with us and put a shift in for the team, I will play them,” Coleman said.
“He got sent off and was maybe unlucky but I can’t say Didier was our problem today.”
While it’s only bad news for Sunderland, this result saw Cardiff return to winning ways after four straight league defeats over Christmas.
Ralls was the stand-out performer, but Paterson also impressed in an unfamiliar midfield position, scoring the opener and adding a superb second. Paterson said: “We needed a lift after the last four or five games. Everyone struggles at some point in a season and hopefully this can be the kick-start we need. Football is a funny game and anything can happen, but we’ve got our wobble out of the way and now the only way is up.
“It was just a blip and everyone has them, so hopefully we can put it behind us and move on.”