The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
‘We should have won’: Dodds left frustrated
SUNDERLAND could not break a stubborn Bristol City in a 0-0 draw and Mike Dodds insisted, “we deserved to win the game and should have won the game”.
It means the Black Cats are still without a home win since February 10 in what has become a frustrating spell which has seen the club drop to 13th in the Championship table which is where they stayed after this result.
Interim head coach Dodds said he was disappointed and insisted: “In terms of the game, we deserved to win the game, we should have won the game and I don’t think they [City] could have had any complaints [if we had].
“I think they [City] will be really happy with a point. Their goalkeeper [Max O’leary] was quite clearly the man of the match. We had 20 shots on goal and in particular in the first half I thought we were excellent.”
Despite declaring his disappointment he added: “I was really happy with us, in particular in possession of the ball.
“I think we moved the ball much quicker and played forward much quicker which is something we demand from the group.
“In the second half I didn’t think we came out as strong as we finished. You were looking at two teams that sort of tired towards the end and the whole tempo went out of the game. But saying that Dacky [Bradley Dack] had an opportunity, Jack Clarke had a couple of chances, Jobe [Bellingham] had a couple of chances. So we created some really strong chances in the second half.”
He added: “Look I’m disappointed, I will be honest, because we didn’t win the game and I felt we deserved to. I don’t think anyone could have any complaints about that.
“At the same time the performance on Monday [against Blackburn Rovers] was not acceptable and and I feel that was a much better performance for the dressing room, for the staff and in particular for the fans.”
Sunderland worked hard and showed character in being much better after that dismal 5-1 home thrashing against Blackburn but Dodds countered: “I’m not going to praise them for that [character] because that’s the minimum expectation.
“If anything I am just more disappointed with what’s happened in the previous game. So they are not going to get praise for that.
“There is a tinge of disappointment because we deserved to win. I thought we were better than the opposition. I mean that respectfully. We had 20 shots on goal and I think the game should have been out of sight in the first half. So there are positives but the overriding feeling is one of disappointment, because we should be coming away with three points.”
Sunderland have five games left, starting at Leeds United on Tuesday, and Dodds added: “They are five big games and I have said that to the group. We played Leeds earlier in the season and West Brom earlier in the season and had positive results.
“So we can definitely go to both away grounds feeling confident we can get something out of the games. We will be prepared and rested and ready to put on a really positive performance at Elland Road.”
Dodds made three changes from Monday, with Clarke returning to the side after a spell out through injury, along with Chris Rigg and Leo Hjelde.
Dan Ballard’s header was swept off the line by O’leary and a flurry of chances came Sunderland’s way but Rigg, Adile Aouchiche and Bellingham could not test the keeper.
Clarke had a shot saved and O’leary denied both Bellingham and Clarke from close range to keep the game goalless. Then Clarke’s initial shot forced a save and Aouchiche’s rebounded header crashed off the crossbar.
Bristol City did conjure up a big chance on 45 minutes, with Luke O’nien clearing Scott Twine’s effort off the line. When substitute Bradley Dack sent a header thudding against the bar you sensed it was not going to be the home side’s day and they had to settle for a point.