Roberts: One game left to earn places in history
GOAL hero Patrick Roberts says he is proud to play for Sunderland but has warned everyone around the club not to get carried away before the League One play-off final.
Alex Neil’s men booked their place at Wembley in dramatic fashion by beating Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 on aggregate, with former Manchester City man Roberts netting the decisive goal in injury time.
Despite his short time on Wearside, the January signing has enjoyed
I’m just proud to play in this team. We’ve got one more game to go - that’s what we’ve got to have our eye on, and not get carried away Patrick Roberts
the experience and wants to end the campaign on a high.
Of Monday’s 1-1 draw, the winger said: “The defensive side was solid as usual. That’s huge credit to Danny [Batth] and Bailey [Wright] – they’ve been outstanding.
“Goochy [Lynden Gooch] has played his part, and Dennis [Cirkin] has come back and done a great job too. Everyone in the team has been absolutely outstanding.
“I’m just proud to play in this team. We’ve got one more game to go – that’s what we’ve got to have our eye on, and [we must] not get carried away.”
The goal came when Clarke surged forward into the penalty area down the left and got the better of Jordan Storey, before squaring for Roberts to sweep home six yards out.
“I get on really well with Jack,” said Roberts. “We see a lot of each other, and I thought he was excellent at Hillsborough.
“He maybe wasn’t on his game in the first leg, and I think he knew that, but in the second game, I thought he was outstanding, the way he carried the ball. Even in the last minute, you could see he still had that drive. Thankfully, he put the ball across to me.
“I’m sure, on another day, he would have wanted to have scored himself, but it just shows the togetherness we have, and that determination to win at all costs.
“He put it in the right area, and my job was to put it in the back of the net. It’s a feeling that won’t go away – and something we can take towards Wembley.”