sunderland afc
Mike Dodds gave his thoughts of the 0-0 draw with Bristol City and the key player in the game.
Although Mike Dodds was happy with his Sunderland team’s response to their crushing loss to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon, he stated to the players it was the very least he could ask of them going ahead.
Dodds commended Max O’Leary of Bristol City for his performance, as Sunderland, although controlling the first half in particular and generating numerous opportunities, were kept to a 0-0 draw.
“Everyone present in the stadium would have witnessed… The lads were just telling me down there that I think we had 20 shots on goal, but I think Bristol City counterattacked well at times, and we contributed to that with some careless play, Dodds added.
“I’ll be shocked if their goalkeeping isn’t named player of the match. It was a good response to the last game, which is significant for the guys psychologically because their performance in that game was really awful. That should have been three points, and I believe their goalkeeper has earned them a point today, so I’m disappointed that we haven’t won.
Dodds said his players need to show that kind of effort and desire in every game and thanked the Sunderland supporters for supporting the team through the years.
“It’s an amazing club and part of the world, and I have nothing but positive things to say about the fans—I’ve said it before. I think they’re absolutely incredible,” Dodds remarked.
“Any disappointment I’ve experienced during my job has been well-earned. As I usually tell the players, you have to give the supporters an opportunity to support our efforts. If you can run and pass forward more quickly, they will support you wholeheartedly. Although I’ve only been here for a few years, the supporters won’t ask for much more if they witness a player or team giving it their all on the field. I feel bad for the supporters because we should have won the game, and we could have, if their goalie hadn’t made several outstanding saves.
“It’s the first time since I’ve taken charge that I had an element of anxiety coming into the game,” he added.
“Thinking over the course of the games I’ve taken, I’ve held my hands up in terms of the first half against Swansea because I asked too much of them, too quickly. In all of the other games, they’d done what we asked and I felt there pockets of positives in each one. Monday I didn’t see coming which frustrated and angered me, so I was hoping to see a significant reaction from the players. I thought we got that and it could have been out of sight in the first half, it should have been a lot more comfortable. That’s not a pop at the players, I just thought their goalkeeper was unbelievable at times. But I’ve just said to them downstairs, they’re not getting a well done or a pat on the back for that – that’s the minimum expectation. We’ll go into Tuesday with the same level of preparation and focus, so it’s not a case of well done.”
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