BLACK CATS MORE THAN KEANE TO F O R G ET A B O U T THIS ONE
Winchester: Next game is now crucial for us
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SUNDERLAND full-back Carl Winchester has branded tomorrow’s trip to Cheltenham a must-win clash after the managerless side’s latest shock slump.
The Black Cats will step up their search for a new boss today with Roy Keane among the candidates to succeed sacked Lee Johnson.
Saturday’s painful defeat to rock-bottom Doncaster – which came on the back of the 6-0 humiliation at Bolton that spelled the end for Johnson – underlined the need to resolve the situation quickly.
Interim manager Mike Dodds admitted he didn’t know whether he would be in charge tomorrow – but made it clear that a third successive loss would be a disaster for a side with top-two ambitions.
And Winchester said: “We just have to get back to what we were doing at the start of the season, and start getting the points back on the table.
“We know today was unacceptable from everyone and
I’m just gutted after we got so many fans here. We wanted to put things right after last week and it’s disappointing.
“It’s now about getting our confidence back. The game on Tuesday is massive for us, it’s a must-win game, we know that.
“I know it’s hard to say, but we have to put that behind us now and look forward to Tuesday.
“The main thing for me is hard work – work your socks off every week and give everyone a lift.”
More than 38,000 fans packed the Stadium of Light, but Sunderland were unable to recover after falling behind to first-half goals from Reo Griffiths and
Tommy Rowe. Not even the 72nd-minute introduction of Jermain Defoe (above) for his second Black Cats debut could turn things around with Corry Evans’ 89th-minute effort their sole reply.
Doncaster manager Gary McSheffrey believes his team can use their shock win to launch a survival bid.
He said: “Hopefully it can be a springboard for us.
“We have two wins from four games. And I think that’s good form because I would snap your hand off for one win in every two games between now and the end of the season.”