Coleman boys cut mustard
SUNDERLAND’S Chris Coleman was a proud manager and believes his side were well worth this victory at the City Ground which moved them out of the relegation zone.
Aidan McGeady’s header five minutes before the break ensured the Black Cats took all three points and piled the pressure on Forest manager Mark Warburton.
“The guys were brilliant,” said Coleman. “I was critical of us last game but this time out, I was so proud of them. We played some good football and defended well for long periods.
“They hit the post in the last minute but we deserved the three points and the performance had a lot of meaning and intent.
“Some of our defensive play was stunning. It’s not just the action, it’s the organisation before the action happened and to come here and not let them get on top is really pleasing.”
Both sides were in need of a win and the opening period was a cagey affair, with the visitors well organised under pressure from Forest.
A long ball over the top nearly caught out Black Cats captain John O’Shea as hesitancy allowed Daryl Murphy in but his shot under pressure was easily dealt with.
The home side were having the better of the chances with Murphy effort leaving goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter stranded to the spot but curling the wrong side of the post, and a diving header failing to trouble the Sunderland goal.
With chances coming for the home side, Murphy was again in the thick of the action as he rose highest to a Ben Osborn cross but couldn’t keep his header on target from six yards.
The visitors struck the killer blow just before the break as a neat move down the left saw Adam Matthews deliver a pinpoint cross for McGeady to plant his header beyond Forest goalkeeper Jordan Smith.
Tactical changes at the break saw Forest look to play in a more attacking manner through a more attacking midfield, but the defensive display of the visitors continued to frustrate the home fans.
Sunderland’s back line continued to thwart any danger, keeping their shape compact, and with Murphy departing injued midway through the second half, chances dried up for the hosts.
As the clock wound down, two late headers from Ben Brereton and Michael Mancienne were off target with the home side failing to test Ruiter in the Black Cats goal.
Forest almost snatched a late equaliser as full-back Eric Lichaj’s shot, deep into injury time, hit the post to deny the home side a share of the points, leaving Warburton frustrated.
“It was a similar feel to the previous home game,” he said. “We had some chances but if you don’t put them away we are not going to get our rewards.
“We knew they would sit in and put ten men behind the ball and it’s hard. The way to do it is keep moving them and quite rightly the crowd got impatient.
“We’ve got to respond and do the right thing and we wanted a reaction at half-time and we made a tactical change to get a higher midfielder to get the ball forward but in truth, the second half was poor.”