Manager Chris Coleman was left ruing a poor defensive showing from Sunderland in the weekend’s game against Bristol City but he knew he couldn’t fault a three goal fightback in the second half to take a valuable point.
Heading to Ashton Gate for the game, Sunderland found themselves three nil behind at the half time break but an enthralling comeback inside of the final 20 minutes of the second half saw two credited own goals from the hosts with Aiden McGeady also finding the net to share the spoils.
The first own goal came from a Lee Cattermole headed that came back off the wordwork before going in off Johsn Brownhill and the second was turned in by Marlon Pack from a Joel Asoro cross.
Speaking to the Official Site as he met with the media following the game, clearly Coleman’s outlook on the match had changed dramatically in a short period of time.
‘It is bizarre, but you get games like that sometimes. There were two stories being told. Our overall intent in the second 45 was much better. We played with a little less fear and rode our luck at the other end. At the other end, we had opportunities where maybe we could`ve scored more goals.’
Coleman went on to say.
‘I thought in terms of the second 45, our performance and sheer greed, it was something – the lads were great. Things are said in dressing rooms, but it was down to the players in the second half. They rolled their sleeves up and took it on. We have come away with a hard-earned point.’
With Bristol City largely flying this season, that was a bonus for Coleman as well but the players have to take every ounce of confidence from that fightback and put that kind of effort and determination into every game from the first minute to the last now as the season edges towards closure.
‘Bristol City are a very, very good team. This club is on the up and they are on the up. To come here and get something it really is something. We did that, we showed character and personality. Most of the teams to get out of relegation dogfights are not necessarily the teams with the best players, it is the teams with a bit of fight. A bit of determination and fight. It is amazing where you can go with that.’
