A Maja boost for Ross

JACK ROSS said the result was the most important thing after Sunderland came from behind to beat managerless Bristol Rovers thanks to Josh Maja’s winner.

Rovers, under the caretaker charge of Graham Coughlan after the departure of Darrell Clarke on Thursday, opened the scoring after 11 minutes through Alex Rodman.

But after Adam Matthews (above) had levelled just before the break, Maja scored four minutes into the second half to win it for the hosts.

Black Cats manager Ross (inset) felt his side deserved their win. He said: “We knew what kind of day it would be, difficult conditions, but the result superseded everything.

“We deserved the result, we had to show the character by coming from behind again. It was a day when the result was of ultimate importance.

“It was a peculiar start – disappointing result through the week against Walsall, so we freshened the team up and wanted to put it right.

“I was reasonably pleased with the start, frustrating to concede. I am pleased the lads got the break before half-time. It was a good reward for them and it changed the mood slightly. Although this was

Sunderland 2 Bristol Rovers 1

not a perfect performance, there were still good things and it is a day at this time of the year when we have to grind out the result.

“We have faced different challenges. We have had to use our squad. We have asked players to take responsibility.”

Coughlan does not expect the defeat to affect where struggling Rovers will finish at the end of the campaign. He said: “To come to Sunderland and get beat is not going to determine where we finish at the end of the season. The games coming up are the ones that will dictate that.”