Grayson: No defence for Town show
FORMER Sunderland boss Simon Grayson blamed defensive lapses as his return to the Stadium of Light with Fleetwood Town ended in defeat.
Sunderland won 2-0 on Wearside thanks to second-half goals from striker Aiden O’Brien and midfielder Max Power to secure a third successive league win - enough to see the Black Cats climb one place to fifth in the table.
Fleetwood made a good start to the game but Lee Johnson’s side soon took control.
The Wearsiders had to wait an hour to make the breakthrough, Cod Army manager Grayson saying O’Brien had caught his young centre-back Harrison Holgate ‘half asleep.’
Fleetwood then conceded a sloppy corner with a misplaced backpass and left Power unmarked at the set-piece to head the second goal.
By contrast Fleetwood – who were without striker Paddy Madden who has contracted Covid – did not manage a shot on target throughout.
Grayson, who spent four months in charge of the Black Cats between June and October 2017, said: “I don’t think there was too much in the game first half to be honest and that is not easy because Sunderland are a good side on a good run.
“We kept Charlie Wyke and Aiden McGeady quiet, we nullified them and there did not seem too much in it.
“Sunderland did not have too many chances, we did not have too many chances.
“It is testament to how we played first half that Sunderlnd changed from a 3-4-3 system to a 4-2-3-1.
“There was not much in it and then one ball in the box, our young centre-back was halfasleep and O’Brien nipped in.
“Then we conceded from a set-piece - we know we can do better.
“We gave the corner away too cheaply and that allowed Sunderland to do what they needed to.”
Grayson was the manager who brought McGeady to Wearside in the summer of 2017 and it was the Irishman who provided the cross for O’Brien.
He went on: “I know Aiden and that spark is why I signed him.
“It was not really that piece of play which undid us, though, it was more the centre-back switching off a bit and O’Brien got in front of him for the goal.”