Sunderland boss Ross satisfied with draw

Posted Wednesday, February 13, 2019 by PA

Sunderland manager Jack Ross was satisfied with his players’ performance despite being held to a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light by Blackpool.

The Black Cats failed to score more than one goal for the 10th League One game in a row and were indebted to a header from defender Jack Baldwin with 15 minutes remaining for avoiding a defeat

Sunderland, who remain four points behind second placed Barnsley with a game in hand, were rattled when Blackpool, unbeaten in six and chasing a play-off spot, were well organised and good value for the lead when French striker Armand Gnanduillet found the bottom right corner of Jon McLaughlin’s net in the 31st minute.

Sunderland had two glaring chances on the night but £4million striker Will Grigg, on his home debut, was unable to convert them both, one in each half.

Ross said: “Our remit is to get out of this league, so we are fourth in the league, do we want to be top? Of course we do. Are we in a position with plenty games to go where we achieve promotion? Absolutely.

“We have been beaten twice this season and scored in every league game. It depends on how you view it. Fifty per cent of the people out there will view it as it’s no good enough, the other 50 per cent will be more realistic and think we are doing alright. I will be happy to discuss that with any person.

“That group of players, from what they have done since the summer, the challenges they have had to deal with, tonight is another example because they had a real sticky patch, it was a bit uneasy in the stadium. They had two choices after half-time, and they decided to come out and show what they were made of.

“The players can wear that jersey, they deserve that and they will get their rewards one way or another. One interesting thing about managing this club is the extreme of emotions, it’s wide. It’s my job to make sure while I am managing this club that there is realism about and a pragmatism that needs to be there for us to take us where we need to be.”

He added: “We have had an element of frustration after recent games, for different reasons. We have had a couple of games where we have not seen games out, tonight with the exception of a 15 minute period post their goal I thought we were good.

“We played better, created more opportunities. There is frustration there but not as much as recent games.”

Blackpool manager Terry McPhillips was frustrated with the result.

He said: “We have come to Sunderland and got a point and yet I have just come out of a very disappointed dressing room.

“We were short of defenders before the game and then my left-back pulled up after seven minutes. Harry Pritchard has never played there before in his life and to perform the way he did was magnificent.

“We scored a wonder goal, had a nailed on penalty refused and the one time we switched off at a corner we were punished but against a team like Sunderland that is what can happen.”