Max optimistic promotion can be achieved despite loss
Max Power says the Sunderland side are under no illusions that their home form must improve – if they are to surge back into promotion contention in a ‘wide open’ division.
The Black Cats’ 2-1 defeat to Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday evening marked the fifth time they have left the Stadium of Light emptyhanded this season.
Indeed, the side have won just three league games on Wearside all season – and Power knows that improvements are needed in that department.
"We know the home form is an issue at this moment in time,” said the Sunderland skipper.
"We've not won enough games.
"The hardest thing with the stadium being empty is the amount of time the ball goes out of play and you're trying to build momentum.
"Tonight was no different than any game we've seen here this season.
"When we're chasing games, teams slow the game down which you can't blame them for - it's clever play.
"Taking their time on throw-ins, goal-kicks, but we're giving teams the opportunity to do that and that's something we need to eradicate from our game and try and keep in the ascendancy.
"The important thing is not giving teams the opportunity to waste time,” he continued.
"Tonight, the disappointing thing is we get back in the game and we're on the front foot and the feeling on the pitch is that it's only going to be us that go and win the game.
"I'm not sure how quickly it was after we scored, but we hadn't even probably settled back into the game and then we're going back to the halfway line knowing we've got another difficult job on our hands.
"That's the disappointing thing.”
Sunderland had fallen behind to Adam Lewis’ early strike against the Pilgrims, but grew into the game and
looked set to kick-on after Aiden O’Brien levelled shortly after the interval.
But parity lasted just five minutes, with Joe Edwards given time and space to thump an effort past Lee Burge, and seal victory for the visitors.
It was a familiar story for the Black Cats, who were once again forced to try and break down a stubborn backline late in the game as they sought an elusive leveller.
"It's been sort of the story of the season at home, in terms of how hard we sometimes have to work to generate chances and get goals,” said Power of the game.
"The disappointing thing tonight is that we worked so hard to get back into the game.
"I thought after the first 20 minutes we took control of the first half and started looking as if we were going to threaten.
"We created a good chance with McGeady, the keeper made a good save,
and we looked in the ascendancy at that point.
"We came out for the second half and you couldn't ask for a better start. We get back in the game and the disappointing thing is the lapse in concentration.
"The lad has finished it well, but in terms of him getting in the area he did from a pretty simple throw-in, we know it's been a bit of a lapse of concentration.
"It seems at the moment we're getting punished for every time we give someone an opportunity, especially at home.
"I think they'd had two, three shots all game - but it's the scoreline that matters at the end of the night and that's where the disappointment lies.”
The game against Plymouth was in doubt in the hours leading up to kickoff as referee Robert Lewis conducted two pitch inspections after heavy rain battered Wearside.
And while the playing surface was understandably
heavy, Power was keen to avoid using that as an excuse.
"There was no issue,” he admitted.
"The conditions tonight have been alright playing well, obviously there's heavy rainfall and the pitch is a bit heavy - but there's no excuses from the players. We were all prepared so there's no issue.”
Sunderland will be back on home soil on Saturday as they welcome Shrewsbury Town, and Power is remaining upbeat as the side look to get back to winning ways.
Indeed, the midfielder-turned-full-back is still optimistic that promotion can be achieved this season – thanks to a combination of Lee Johnson’s early impact and the fact the division remains ‘wide open’ as we enter the business end of the campaign.
“He's galvanised the place and there are real good signs,” said Power of the new head coach
"Now it's about putting
it all together. For me, I'm always in a positive mind frame and I still think we've got a real good chance of getting out the division but we really need to get on top of this home form and start putting in those performances that we've been putting in away from home.
"The time I've been at the club, I know you've got to be thick-skinned to play here and have that mental state when things aren't going right,” he continued.
"We should be winning tonight, we're expected to win and if we have any aspirations of getting out the division every player tonight should turn up, want to win and expect to win.
"But it doesn't just happen and we've seen tonight that we go 1-0 down, which kicked us into life and that was frustrating coming off the back of a great away win on Saturday.
"We want to build momentum and you look at the division and it's still wide open.”