Boss: Latics clash is an ‘extended training session’
MATCH AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON NEW STYLE OF PLAY FOR JOHNSON
LEE Johnson will use tonight’s EFL Trophy tie at Oldham as an ‘extended training session’ as he looks to imprint his footballing philosophy on his new charges. Johnson was confirmed as Sunderland’s new head coach on Saturday lunchtime and immediately took control, although his presence in the dugout at the Stadium of Light could not inspire the team as they lost against basement side Wigan Athletic.
But he has had more time to work with the players and prepare for this evening’s trip to Boundary Park to take on League Two Oldham Athletic in the second round of the EFL Trophy. Ordinarily, clubs tend to make wholesale changes in this competition but Johnson will not go down that route because he sees this as another opportunity to work on the playing style of his team.
That said, there will still be some personnel changes, with academy graduate Anthony Patterson due to start in goal, while on-loan Wolves centre-back Dion Sanderson will come into the side.
Aiden McGeady played his first senior game since July at the weekend and Johnson will not push him to start two games so close together.
“It’s always a tricky one when the priority is the league and let’s not make any mistake about that,” said Johnson.
“But it’s also a great competition to win.
“For the big clubs who’ve got a bit of depth to their squad, I think it’s a good one.
“No disrespect to Oldham or the game, but also for us it’s almost an extended training schedule to really bed in the principles that we’re trying to get across really quickly to the players.”
As for the changes, he added: “I’m looking forward to seeing Anthony Patterson.
“I wanted to see him play in goal because I’ve heard a lot of good things about him, so he’s going to start.
“Dion Sanderson I saw a lot last year at Cardiff where he did extremely well so it will be good to get him again. He will start.
“It’s then, effectively, a pretty strong side.
“Aiden McGeady we’ve got to be careful with, given that he hasn’t played a lot of minutes, so this one we might just use him off the bench to top up his minutes so he is ready for Saturday.”
Johnson started his managerial career at Oldham, taking over in March 2013 when the Latics were in League One and spending two years there before leaving to take charge at Barnsley.
He said: “It’ll be great to go back, although I’m not sure there will be too many staff members who were there when I was there.
“There’s one, their academy manager Paul Murray, who was my first team coach at Oldham before he went to manage Hartlepool, and I’m looking forward to seeing him.
“But for me, I’m the Sunderland head coach and I want to go and win the football match.”