O’Neill: ‘We should have been able to hold on’

Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill was left frustrated by a late equalizer for the second weekend on the trot after Kevin Nolan’s 90th minute leveller at the Boleyn Ground.

After Luis Suarez rescued a point for Liverpool at the Stadium of Light with eight minutes to play last weekend, Hammers’ skipper Nolan once again prevented the Black Cats from recording their first league win of the season.

Stephen Fletcher had O’Neill’s side ahead after just four minutes with a neat finish before the Irons laid siege on the Black Cats goal.

Simon Mignolet’s goal led a charmed life until the 90th minute when former Mag Nolan popped up to deny Sunderland three points at the death.

Speaking afterwords to safc.com, O’Neill revealed his frustration at letting two points slip:

“We should have won the game and we should have been able to hold on,” admitted O’Neill.

“There were a number of really good chances to make it 2-0 and with a little bit more care on the ball we could have scored those.

“When you don`t take those chances you always leave yourself wide open to an equalising goal.”

Despite registering just a handful of efforts on target, O’Neill lamented the fact that his side were unable to grab a decisive second:

“As that pressure mounted, I thought we dealt with it well. But we missed too many good chances and we should have done better. We should have had more than one goal today.”

Sunderland are back in League Cup action this Tuesday as they head to Milton Keynes to face MK Dons in the second round of the Capital One Cup.