In advance of the team’s return to Championship play, Sunderland head coach Mel Reay has provided an update.
Luke O’Nien claims that following Sunderland’s 1-0 loss to Hull City, the players are just as frustrated as the supporters are.
After Friday’s game, there were loud jeers at the Stadium of Light, as some of the home supporters threw their frustrations at head coach Michael Beale after the final siren.
After the game, O’Nien spoke with the Echo about the feelings of the fans, saying, “Listen, there is frustration in the dressing room as well after you lose, everyone is out there to win.” The players and the enthusiastic club both want to win each and every game.
We have a squad in the changing rooms that wants to win every game, so we can understand the frustrations that arise after the game. All we need to do is let it motivate us. It’s somewhere when we are scoring goals, winning games, and the supporters are rooting for us. This season, every player has experienced it, and it’s critical to utilize that as inspiration to push yourself farther toward your objectives.
“The fans attend every game to cheer us on, and now it’s our responsibility to deliver the outcomes that will make them happy and go home.” It is obviously discouraging for both the team and the individual when so many players are sent home with no points. It is now our responsibility to show there, work as hard as we can, and earn them points for the upcoming week.”
After Saturday’s games, Sunderland fell to 10th in the Championship standings, but with 28 league games remaining, they are still only three points off of a play-off spot. The Black Cats are now gearing up for their home match against Stoke this coming weekend, followed by a trip to Middlesbrough early in February.
O’Nien said, speaking on the team’s standing at this juncture in the season: “I believe that four years was it in League One, and if someone said you’re three points out of the play-offs with eighteen games left, you’d say, ‘Go on then, give us that.'” We just need to go forward and do what we know to do.”