HORROR (SECOND) DEBUT FOR JERMAIN
MIKE DODDS admitted he does not know if he will be in charge of Sunderland on Tuesday night. The club, who are searching for a replacement for Lee Johnson, saw their top-two hopes slump further with a shock defeat to a Doncaster Rovers who started the day bottom of the table.
Reo Griffiths and Tommy Rowe scored in the first-half, and a late consolation from Corry Evans was unable to turn the tide on the afternoon Jermain Defoe made his second debut.
Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman said before the game the club was still finalising its shortlist for the position, with Roy Keane one of the candidates for the role.
That suggested an appointment is not imminent, with the Black Cats back in action at Cheltenham on Tuesday night.
“I’m literally working day to day,” interim manager Dodds said.
“It’s a massive privilege for me to represent this football club.
“I hope they do get someone in, but if I’m needed then I will do this job to the best of my ability.
“Like I said to the players on Monday, it’s not about me, it’s about giving them the best platform to perform.
“That hasn’t happened so I’m going to have to reflect on why that is.”
There was major controversy midway through the second-half when Ross Stewart appeared to have set up a grandstand finish with a back post header, but the referee waved play on even as the ball looked to have dropped well over the line.
Dodds said that, regardless of the decision, there were no excuses.
Almost 40,000 fans had packed out the Stadium of Light to welcome Defoe back, but by the time he was introduced with 20 minutes to play the damage was already done.
The home side looked short of ideas in an insipid first-half, with debutante Griffiths and experienced 33-year-old Rowe firing Rovers into a comfortable lead at the break.
The introduction of Defoe was not enough to inspire the Black Cats, who reduced the deficit through a late Evans goal but ultimately fell short.
Dodds said: “Let’s not shy away from the facts, a club of this size should not lose three games on the bounce regardless of what division it’s in.
“The next 48, 72 hours will be very important for us. We have to dust ourselves down and accept the fact that the spell in the first-half was not unacceptable.
Speakman said the club will not be rushed into making a managerial decision, saying: “We’re speaking to all the people within the shortlist.”
An alarm issue forced a stadium evacuation last night, with Doncaster’s press conference cancelled as a result.
SUNDERLAND: Hoffman 7, Winchester 6 (Clarke 61, 6), Batth 7, Doyle 7, Cirkin 6, Evans 7, Neil 6 (Matete 72, 6), Gooch 7, Embleton 6 (Defoe 72, 6), Pritchard 8, Stewart 7. Subs not used: Dajaku, Patterson, Hume, Roberts.
DONCASTER ROVERS: Mitchell 8, Younger 7, Williams 7, Olowu 7, Seaman 7, Smith 7, Rowe 9, Jackson 7, Martin 7 (Gardner
70, 6), Odubeko 7 (Dodoo 75, 6), Griffiths 8 (Knoyle 80, 6). Subs not used: Jones, Clayton, Barlow, Agard.