Chris sees wheels come off
SUNDERLAND are really in a barrow load of trouble now after Chris Coleman’s prematch message fell on deaf ears.
The Black Cats boss was in a lyrical vein when he declared: “You don’t want players like wheelbarrows, which are only good or useful when you push them.’’
But the wheels came off again for the Wearsiders as Brentford breezed to victory thanks to first-half goals from Kamo Mokotjo and Neal Maupay.
It prompted one fan to stage a lone protest late in the game as he lambasted Sunderland chief executive Martin Bain in the directors’ box, and won a round of applause from supporters sitting nearby.
With no sign of club owner Ellis Short, Coleman admitted: “They’ll go for Martin because he’s the guy who’s here and holding the baby, if you like. He’s a big boy and he knows how it goes.’’
Sunderland have collected only one point from their last four matches and the prospect of relegation looms large.
And Coleman added: “More grief, more frustration and more suffering. It’s just been the theme really for the last four games. We’re nervous, we panic and there’s a lack of cohesion.
“I just have to stick at it and maybe change personnel and things in training. There’s an acceptance of negativity and defeat that’s something I find tough and annoying
“But I’ll be ready to go to Bolton on Tuesday. It’s the game of the season for us and I’ll be 100 per cent ready. I’ve just got to make sure I take a group of people with me who are also ready for it.’’
There was a minute’s applause before kick-off for former Sunderland midfielder Liam Miller, who died last week at the age of only 36.
Sunderland skipper John O’Shea, a colleague of Miller with Manchester United and the Republic of Ireland, was part of a reshaped defence as Coleman switched to a back four.
But the home side soon found themselves under sustained pressure, and the Bees should have gone ahead in the 11th minute when full-back Henrik Dalsgaard pulled the ball in from the right and Florian Jozefzoon shot straight at keeper Lee Camp.
But a goal was coming and it arrived two minutes later. Maupay shook off O’Shea and Lee Cattermole and laid the ball to Mokotjo, who beat Camp low to his left.
Brentford extended their lead in the 28th minute. Oliver Watkins supplied a right-wing centre and Maupay performed a clever back-heel at the near post.
Joel Asoro brought a save from Bees keeper Daniel Bentley following a surging run, then George Honeyman slammed a shot against the bar.
Aiden McGeady should have made more of an opportunity early in the second half when he fired wide after good work by Asoro. Bentley was forced to save again from Asoro, but that was just about it from Sunderland.
Bees boss Dean Smith said: “We came out of the blocks really well, but I was disappointed with the second half. I thought we were poor, but if you go away, score two and keep a clean sheet, you have to be happy.”
Smith backed Coleman, adding: “It’s a great club with a great history, but we saw what happened to Aston Villa last season. Steve Bruce has turned it around and I expect Chris to turn it around here.’’