LIGHTWEIGHTS
Coleman: Players have lost their bottle
CHRIS COLEMAN admits that his Sunderland side can kiss goodbye to the Championship if they lose at Bolton on Tuesday after yet another shambolic home performance.
Angry fans turned on players and chief executive Martin Bain after Brentford marked their first ever visit to the Stadium of Light with a comfortable victory.
Sunderland fell two behind in the first half-hour and one angry supporter turned on Bain and absent owner Ellis Short with a long rant – to the applause of others in the 27,702 crowd.
Coleman said: “Martin has been left holding the baby so they will vent their frustrations at him but he is a big boy and he will be OK.
“The fans have suffered for a long time and are not getting enough from us.
“We are nervous, we panic, lack cohesion. There is an acceptance of negativity and defeat. I do find that tough.
“Maybe the situation is too much for some. I cannot accept the club is doomed. I need players walking around with two fingers up who are ready for this challenge.
“I will be ready for Bolton. That is our whole season.”
Sunderland, who have won only two of their last 26 home games, were a shambles from the kick-off – and even made a mess of that.
Loaded with players on the left, the ball was played to Tyias Browning but he immediately lost possession. It set the tone for their afternoon.
Lee Camp was forced into his first save in the fourth minute when he kept out Oliver Watkins’ effort before Florian Jozefzoon shot at the Sunderland keeper.
But he was unable to keep out Kamo Mokotjo’s low strike in the 14th minute which flew through Browning’s legs after Neal Maupay held off John O’shea and tapped the ball back to the South African (inset).
Jozefzoon and Watkins then combined for the second before Maupay slipped the ball past Camp with a cheeky backheel at the near
post. Bees gaffer Dean Smith (below) said: “The first half was as well as we have played for a while but the second was a bit disappointing” George Honeyman hit the bar in the dying seconds of the first half and Coleman made two changes at the break, replacing the absymal Ethan Robson and Browning with Jonny Williams and Adam Matthews.
Aiden Mcgeady and Joel Asoro had chances in each half but Brentford’s first clean sheet in 80 years against Sunderland never looked in doubt.
When not jeering their own players, Sunderland fans turned on ref John Brooks after a number of odd decisions.
He did spare Ashley Fletcher a second yellow for a high challenge on Henrik Dalsgaard yet Coleman immediately took off the on-loan striker, to the inevitable jeers.
Fletcher will miss next week’s clash with his parent club Middlesbrough.
The first half was as well as we have played for a while but the second half was a bit disappointing