MUCH WORK FOR COLEMAN TO DO
DEFEAT AT VILLA PARK OFFERED SOME POSITIVES FOR NEW SUNDERLAND BOSS, BUT HE KNOWS THERE IS PLENTY
wicked deflection. Villa are now fourth yet they were far from their best and, worryingly, it still proved enough to beat Sunderland. There were some positives to take. Lewis Grabban scored his 10th goal, Sunderland at least tried to play football rather than hoofing it long and there were some bright performances from those drafted into the side including George Honeyman and Lynden Gooch. But it was another game that ended in defeat in a league that has little quality.
Yet Sunderland find themselves propping it up.
That says it all and Coleman has to quickly find a win, with third-bottom Burton Albion next up on Saturday.
A week ago to the day Coleman was overseeing his final game in charge of Wales, denied a win in stoppage time by Panama.
Fast forward seven days and he was in the Sunderland dugout at Villa Park overseeing a Sunderland defeat. What a difference a week makes.
Coleman surprised many in football after agreeing to take charge at Sunderland.
The 47-year-old was serenaded by the Wales fans, desperate for him to stay. This time it was the travelling Sunderland faithful chanting his name.
Suited Coleman made a point of applauding the away support before making his way to the bench, around a dozen press cameras snapping away.
Coleman is a big draw. It was a coup for Sunderland to land him as Simon Grayson’s replacement.
With so many injuries and a patched-up side this was always going to be a difficult evening. Yet it just highlighted exactly how big of a job Coleman has on his hands.
Colemanwasforcedtomake five changes, his options severely hit with Watmore, Jonny Williams, Marc Wilson, Lamine Kone and Billy Jones all injured, Lee Cattermole suspended and Didier Ndong not involved.
Within 10 minutes, Sunderland, who had started brightly, were behind.
Matthews burst through the middle from right back but was dispossessed and lay injured on the turf as Villa broke.
The ball fell to Robert Snodgrass, who crossed from the right wing and left Adomah with a simple tap-in at the back post – where Matthews would have been was he not down injured.
Robbin Ruiter was alert to push Snodgrass’s low effort away for a corner, then Aidean McGeady shot wide and Grabban saw a low effort from a tight angle saved by Sam Johnstone, but Sunderland failed to test the Villa keeper enough.
Within four minutes of the restart, Villa had a 2-0 cushion as Onomah’s low effort took a wicked deflection off Tyias Browning before looping past Ruiter. Grabban pulled one back in the 72nd minute, from James Vaughan’s knockdown, but Sunderland couldn’t force an equaliser. Another game. Another defeat.
Coleman applauded the travelling fans as he made his way down the tunnel, they pray he will steer the club up the table, but there is much work to be done.