Milan turns on style to heap pain on Grayson
SIMON GRAYSON vowed to carry on as Sunderland boss after Bristol City became the latest team to leave the Stadium of Light with three points.
The Robins climbed into the play-off places after substitute Milan Djuric headed in the winner with 17 minutes remaining.
But the Black Cats’ misery continues as their winless run at the Stadium of Light was extended to 18 matches.
Grayson said: “I am disappointed with the players and what they have done.
“I will continue to work as hard as I can and hopefully we will get results and it will change very quickly.”
And he added: “We had a team meeting, designed to give players jobs and responsibilities. We repeated it again at lunchtime and we have not been able to stop a player at 5ft 7ins getting a free header. We shoot ourselves in the foot.”
It looked like Bristol City, who took the lead in the 28th minute through Bobby Reid, might not clinch victory when Lewis Grabban forced in a scrappy equaliser at the end of the first half.
But Lee Johnson’s side managed to seal the points courtesy of Djuric’s first league goal of the season with 17 minutes remaining.
It is a sign of the times at Sunderland, staring at a relegation fight rather than a promotion charge, that there were more than 20,000 empty seats inside the 48,000-capacity venue.
City kept plugging away and were rewarded when Reid nodded down Callum O’Dowda’s corner and beyond Jason Steele.
Sunderland found their feet just before half-time. Aiden McGeady saw his initial cross-shot palmed away by Frank Fielding before Billy Jones tried next, followed by Duncan Watmore before Grabban scored.
And in the 73rd minute O’Dowda got to the byline and sent in a fine centre for the towering Djuric to nod into the empty net.
Manager Johnson said: “I’m delighted with the second half. Sunderland were the better team in the first half.
“Their goal was a good wake-up call.”