Grayson ready for some Light relief

SIMON GRAYSON admits Sunderland’s poor home form is taking its toll on his players.

The Black Cats go in search of their fi rst win in any competition at the Stadium of Light since December last year tonight against the Championship’s bottom club Bolton.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think it was affecting the group,” said Grayson, whose side will be leapfrogged by Bolton if they lose. “It has to change somewhere, sometime and let’s hope it’s on Tuesday night because it’s something that has dragged on for months now.

“Everyone is clear that it affects the players when results aren’t going for you – especially at home – and the majority of your supporters are home fans and they want to see victories and we’ve not been able to give them that.”

Asked if he can turn around an increasingly diffi cult situation, Grayson said: “One hundred per cent.

“I stick my chest out – I’m at the front of this big football club, fantastic football club and I’m here to really try to galvanise and get it going again. I keep saying on a weekly basis, I had a comfortable job at Preston but I had the balls to come to this club and show what I wanted to do and trust my ability that I can make a good club great again.”

Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy, meanwhile, has made an apology for swearing at the club’s travelling fans after being barracked with chants for him to go during their 2- 1 win at Burton on Saturday.

“I shouldn’t have dropped the swear words in there and I thoroughly apologise to the sensitive people I’ve upset,” said McCarthy. “But in terms of what I said there’s not a chance I regret that. I meant every single word of it.”