SUNDERLAND .................................................................................... 2

COLEMAN: I DIDN’T REALISE WE WERE OFF THE BOTTOM

CATS boss Chris Coleman says he was so concerned with his side, he hadn’t even realised the Cats had leapfrogged Burton and Bolton Wanderers to climb off the foot of the table,

He said: “I didn’t even know we were off the bottom. I know where we are, I know who is around us, and all I know is that we were playing today.

“I haven’t looked. I didn’t know the scenarios had we lost, or this, that, and the other. I just want to immerse myself with the situation we are in and make sure I can affect that as best I can, and I can do that by looking at ourselves, and our performances, we have to look at how we can get a bit better, how can we squeeze a bit more out of certain individuals.”

Coleman was also delighted with the clean sheet, which was Sunderland’s first in the league this season.

“It was our first clean sheet, which is brilliant,” he said. I’m pleased for John O’Shea who was marshalling the back four.

“I’ve been really impressed with some of the boys in there. You have to put yourself in their shoes - it’s been so disappointing for them, and that negativity grows, as every game goes by and every week goes by, and you don’t get a win or you lose again.

“The problem is, no one can come in to help you - it’s up to you, and you have to deal with it yourself.

“I’m pleased for John and the defenders, and for Robbin [Ruiter] the goalkeeper, Lee Cattermole sitting in front of them, especially in the second half when it was getting a bit stretched and he used his experience really well, talking to people.

“It was a great clean sheet, but we didn’t come for a draw. We came here to win the game, hence why it was so open at times, but we had to get points, we had to go for it, and it came off for us today.”

Lewis Grabban has a shot on target for Sunderland at Pirelli Stadium. Below, George Honeyman scores the Black Cats’ second goal