Mixed feelings for Ross as Sunderland draw again

Posted Saturday, February 16, 2019 by PA

Jack Ross was left with mixed emotions after his Sunderland side clawed back a two-goal deficit to claim a 2-2 draw with Accrington.

Trailing to goals from Billy Kee and Paul Smyth, Sunderland claimed a point thanks to second-half strikes from George Honeyman and Aiden McGeady.

Their comeback provided proof of the squad’s resilience but the result means the Black Cats have now failed to win seven of their last nine league games.

Ross said: “I don’t want to be repetitive and sit here all the time and say it’s frustrating, but it is. A bit like Tuesday (when Sunderland drew 1-1 with Blackpool), it’s a peculiar set of emotions because for most of the game we played quite well, but for a short spell it was the polar opposite.

“It was a bit like that on Tuesday too. There was a 15- or 20-minute spell where it was the complete opposite to prior to the goal and in the second half in the main.

“In those periods, it’s about making sure that we are a little bit more resilient, but then the character and resilience from the players to come back was very obvious again.

“There has to be an element of realism about not winning these games. I can’t continue to say it doesn’t matter, of course it does. If you look at the number of draws, then the reality is that if you had won half of them and drawn half of them, you would be in a better position, and a position that would probably be right up there.

“You can’t affect what’s gone though – we just need to continue having faith in what we’re doing and make sure we capitalise on opportunities.”

The result lifted Accrington four points clear of the relegation zone and while John Coleman’s side are still to claim a league win since Boxing Day, the quality of their performance suggests they should be more than capable of avoiding an instant return to League Two.

Coleman said: “We were brave, we tried to pass the ball. I just thought it was a fantastic game of football.

“I really enjoyed it but because we haven’t won since Boxing Day, it is disappointing not to get that win and we’re not getting carried away.

“They’re a good side, they’re unbeaten at home this season for a reason. It was pleasing we got the benefits of our training this week. We specifically worked on the strikers, and the second goal was a carbon copy of what we had worked on.

“It’s pleasing when things like that come off. We have to use this as a springboard now, we have four big home games coming up and we have to build on this to make sure we get the points in those games that we need to make sure we stay up at the end of the season.”