Boss goes on offensive ahead of trip to Hoops
COLEMAN: WE NEED TO BE POSITIVE
CHRIS Coleman has called for his players to have a go at QPR this afternoon rather than sit back and defend.
Some Sunderland supporters have voiced concerns in recent weeks over the Black Cats’ perceived negative tactics - but the boss seems to want his players to play with more freedom going forward.
With injuries leaving Coleman with Lamine Kone as the only fit centre-back available, a switch to 4-4-2 is looking increasingly likely.
Ahead of his side’s crucial clash at Loftus Road, Coleman has made clear his players cannot afford to sit back and invite pressure.
He said: “We have made a rod for our own back with each game which passes.
“There is always more pressure on the next one and the next one, especially when you are bottom of the league - but I look at it as a chance to win, a chance to break our duck if you like and turn the corner.
“I am not put off by it, I am not afraid of it.
“I look forward to it because it is a chance for us to put things to bed.
“We have to look at it that way rather than go down there and try to nick a sneaky goal and defend for 90 minutes.
“We have proved we cannot defend for 90 minutes, that is not how you get things done. We have to come out of our shell, we have to attack, we have to create and we have to somehow overcome one or two psychological barriers and get the job done. “The players are capable of doing that but they have to go and do it.” With Joel Asoro fully fit again after being only able to make the bench midweek against Aston Villa, the chances are the former Wales boss will prompt for two strikers in the capital. With Sunderland struggling for defensive options, fans might get their wish and see a traditional 4-4-2 formation deployed. Asoro could be partnered with either Josh Maja or Ashley Fletcher, while Kazenga LuaLua is an option as both a striker or winger. Coleman also says Sunderland must give the ‘fabulous’ Black Cats travelling fans something cheer about at QPR.
Despite the bleak situation on Wearside, supporters have still travelled in numbers for away games – 2,000 braved the trip to London last weekend despite the adverse weather to be there at Millwall.
Coleman added: “I look at the run of games coming up and think let’s get to it, let’s put a smile back on everyone’s faces.
“We have had it for so long where everyone has been gloomy but one win might get people thinking ‘maybe, just maybe.’
“We have not given anyone reason for that optimism for a long time.
“We saw the support we had at Millwall, it was brilliant – fabulous support.
“The supporters who do all that travelling, who get up at all hours of the morning, spend all sorts of money following us, even where we are now, I can’t thank them enough.”