Changes in defence not cause of loss
THE late reshuffle caused by Conor McLaughlin’s injury in the warm-up was no excuse for Sunderland’s 2-1 defeat at Wigan, insists boss Lee Johnson.
McLaughlin was due to start the game but at the last minute Bailey Wright had to be promoted from the bench, Luke O’Nien switching to right-back.
Wright was thrown in at the deep end as this was his first game back after two months out with a torn calf muscle.
Sunderland went ahead through Charlie Wyke on the halfhour but conceded two goals from corners - Will Keane equalising before half-time before Callum Lang scored the winner on the hour.
Asked whether the disruption played a part, Johnson said: “In an ideal world, Bailey would have had a couple of 90 minutes for the under-23s.
“However, it was not just that, there were two or three on the pitch who were not quite right.
“Dion Sanderson’s back was an issue and has been an issue all week and we are a little bit light in that area.
“At the same time, I don’t think that is any excuse because it was not really the central defensive part which cost us.”
McLaughlin underwent hernia surgery in January and has also had a painkilling injection to allow him to play on but Sunderland will now have to wait to find out if he will be sidelined again.
Johnson said of the Northern Ireland international: “He had a hernia problem on one side and an injection in that and that has left a weakness on the other side.
“I don’t know whether it will settle down or whether Conor will have to go again.
“It was pretty frustrating because there were no warning signs - just as soon as he started warming-up he said ‘I can’t run.’”