Coleman praises team spirit after debut defeat

If ever a 2-1 defeat can provide a reason for optimism, perhaps this was it. Sunderland’s melancholic supporters at least witnessed a performance brimming with brio in Chris Coleman’s first game in charge, though not the conviction or quality to restore parity against a resurgent Aston Villa side.

Villa, who have now registered eight victories in their past 11 outings, are on the march. Now up to fourth in the Championship, they rarely looked likely to relinquish the advantage handed to them by Albert Adomah’s early goal and Josh Onomah’s 49th-minute strike.

To their credit, Coleman and his players did not wave the white flag. Facing a two-goal deficit, the former Wales manager introduced James Vaughan midway through the second half and was rewarded by Lewis Grabban’s 72nd-minute goal, which set up a tense finale.

The problem facing Coleman, though, is turning endeavour into points. It is the same conundrum that has overcome the nine permanent managers Sunderland have employed since Roy Keane’s departure eight years ago.

Of those appointments, only Martin O’neill has succeeded in getting anywhere near his Republic of Ireland colleague’s win ratio and there were signs of both encouragement and familiar failings here, which Coleman must urgently address. “In these moments is when you start building team spirit and that’s what we have to do,” he said. “I don’t feel sorry for the players. I don’t think anybody feels sorry for me or us. It will be us that gets us out of this. You’ve got to turn your own luck around and I think we will do that.

“We’ve get to drag each other up. Get each other through it, get a result and then you start marching forward. At 2-0 down at Villa Park they could have easily melted and they didn’t, so I’m not too despondent. I kind of knew what was coming. I didn’t want to come here and try to be defensive for 90 minutes.”

Steve Bruce, the Villa manager, conceded Sunderland’s players had “rolled-up their sleeves” but was satisfied at the way his team found a way to win, despite the absence of several key players. Bruce also confirmed striker Jonathan Kodjia is expected to undergo an operation after the recurrence of an ankle injury sustained on international duty with Ivory Coast last week.

“We’re without big players at the minute, especially at the top end of the pitch,” Bruce said. “It’s always difficult without your No9 but we’ll have to deal with it. We’ve been without him a lot this year, so let’s see if we can find someone in January, who can help us because that’s going to be vitally important.”

Aston Villa

Subs Sunderland Referee

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