Sunderland Echo

Johnson issues Rovers caution for Cats ahead of Trophy clash

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squad have to focus on their performanc­e against an opponent with plenty of experience in their ranks.

Former Black Cats James Vaughan has been ruled out through injury, but Johnson knows they have a number of other threats.

“We’re not going there for a day out to enjoy ourselves," Johnson said.

"Our attitude is very much that we’ve got to go and win at Wembley. It’s a game we want to win.

"The danger is that we’re playing a side from the league below, so there will be certain assumption­s that go along with that.

"But we’re playing a team that are flying.

"They’re doing well in the league and they’ve got a really experience­d squad.

"In fact, I bet there’s as many, if not more, Championsh­ip appearance­s in that Tranmere side than there is in ours.

"You’ve got [David] Nugent in there, Vaughan, although he’s now injured, and players like [Jay] Spearing and [Liam] Feeney.

"These players are really experience­d, and they can turn it on," he added.

"This certainly isn’t going to be a walk in the park or a day we can just go into with the mindset of enjoying ourselves.

"We’ve got to be really focused on our performanc­e, and making sure we do all the bits that go into that extremely well.”

Sunderland's Fratton Park win, their first at that ground since 1997, has neverthele­ss left squad and supporters alike in high spirits ahead of the game.

Midfielder Josh Scowen praised his team-mates for their performanc­e in a game that they controlled 'from start to finish'.

"I thought we controlled the game from start to finish," he said.

"There were a couple of little mistakes, giving them half chances, but I thought we controlled it, it was a really good performanc­e.

"The control comes from us having that understand­ing, the personnel and the strengths and weaknesses.

"We've got a really strong bond at the moment and things are clicking for us.

"We're putting what we're doing in training into games and our performanc­es are showing that.

"The gaffer's ideas are working, the boys are taking it on board and it's working for us at the moment.

"We'll go to Wembley full of confidence.

"It would have been for the fans to have been able to be there and it obviously won't the same for us without them there, but hopefully it'll still be enjoyable.

"We're going there to try and get that win for them."

 ??  ?? Head coach Lee Johnson says Sunderland cannot underestim­ate Tranmere Rovers in the Papa John’s Trophy final
Head coach Lee Johnson says Sunderland cannot underestim­ate Tranmere Rovers in the Papa John’s Trophy final
 ??  ?? Tranmere Rovers’ experience­d striker David Nugent.
Tranmere Rovers’ experience­d striker David Nugent.

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