NO MORE JEKYLL & HIDE
Honeyman hails Black Cats’ superb fightback but can’t explain woeful first-half performance
GEORGE HONEYMAN summed up the mixed feelings in the Sunderland camp after a memorable comeback at Ashton Gate.
The midfielder (right) was as mystified as anyone by a Jekyll and Hyde performance that had visiting fans chanting, “You’re not fit to wear the shirt” when the Black Cats trudged in 3-0 down at half-time.
It was a different story at the end, with those who had made the 600mile round trip in party mood after two own goals either side of an Aiden McGeady strike earned Chris Coleman’s men a remarkable point.
Honeyman said: “We showed great character to get back into the game, but we have to stop giving ourselves these mountains to climb.
“I don’t know why we’re starting games so badly. Perhaps it’s the nervous energy around the place. The first goal is so important in Championship games and it shoots a lot of our confidence when we concede it.
“I don’t know what we have to change, but we can’t keep giving ourselves such uphill tasks. Hopefully, this will prove a massive point for us.
“We showed in the second half we have the quality to do well against good sides. There was a great feeling of togetherness at the end and it’s important we don’t waste that.”
Coleman admitted he feared a 5-0 defeat when wretched defending saw City build what looked an unassailable lead.
Aden Flint was given freedom to fire home from Marlon Pack’s fifth-minute free-kick, while Famara Diedhiou was unchallenged when scoring from close range on 31 and 37 minutes. Some away fans made for the exits. But City wasted more chances and 20 minutes from time a Lee Cattermole header bounced off the bar and in off Josh Brownhill. McGeady scored from a Cattermole free-kick and when Joel Asoro’s stoppage-time cross flew in off Pack shortly after City keeper Frank Fielding saved brilliantly from Ashley Fletcher the turnaround was complete. Robins head coach Lee Johnson blamed himself for not shoring up the game by sending on an extra midfielder at 3-1. “I felt there were more goals in the game for us,” he explained.
“Bobby Reid came off at half-time with a knock, but wanted to continue. I decided to wrap him in cotton wool.
“We should have had a blatant penalty in the second half when Jamie Paterson clearly had his shirt pulled.
“The same thing happened to us at Bolton in our last game, yet the referee who made a big mistake there was officiating again today. I think that is a disgrace.
“We were lazy in our defending at the end. I am very dejected, but I have to take the positives and at times we played some fantastic football.”
Coleman said: “I can’t remember coming back from 3-0 down to earn a point as a player or manager. There were a few home truths at half-time and the response from the players was magnificent.”