Calmness of Ejaria a big miss for us, says Chris

Chris Coleman believes Liverpool loanee Ovie Ejaria was a huge miss in Sunderland’s midfield against Brentford – and he is sweating on his return at Bolton tomorrow.

Ejaria missed Saturday’s hame after suffering a knock in training and Sunderland missed his calmness on the ball, says Coleman, who hit out at his side’s “erratic” and “nervous” play.

Coleman said: “We train a certain way and then when the bell rings we play a slightly different way – that’s what really bothers me.

“I have to look at us andwhere we are and the opposition we are up against and maybe the typeofcharacterswe in the team.

“Maybe I need to change certain things, take away all the emotion, look at the game.

“There probably wasn’t a lot in it but we never looked like we had that belief we were going to score.

“When they got in our last third, there was an edginess that they are going to get a third (goal).

“We are missing Ovie Ejaria (pictured), someone who can put his foot on the ball and calm things down. We were so nervous in possession, so erratic from the kick-off, we are slashing at it, heading balls when we should be chesting it down and passing it.

“That is nerves and panic and you are not going to progress with that.”

Sunderland switched to a flat-back four, with Bryan Oviedo surprisingly dropped from the squad. Chelsea loanee Jake Clarke-Salter, a natural centre back, was pushed to left-back instead.

Oviedo, the usual firstchoice left-back, was subbed after an hour at Bristol City last week and Coleman said his omission against Brentford was a “tactical choice”.

Kazenga LuaLua is a major doubt for tomorrow’s trip to Bolton. Coleman added: “LuaLua was injured in training on Friday. Bryan wasn’t injured – that was a tactical choice.

“I don’t think Kaz will make Tuesday. He had a crack on his ankle. He has been struggling with it anyway, I don’t think he will make Tuesday. “Ovie, we don’t know. “Maybe, if it settles down, he has got a chance.” need