Sunderland manager Chris Coleman has admitted Jason Steele’s red card handed Queens Park Rangers the advantage as we lost again at the weekend.
Heading to Loftus Road for the game last weekend, Steele saw red for handball after he rushed out of his area but misjudged the flight of the ball just minutes into the second half restart and just after the hour mark in the match the hosts took full advantage and for the former Welsh gaffer it was a sickening blow as although he didn’t feel a victory was on the cards, neither was a defeat in his mind until that turning point.
Speaking to the Official Site as he met with the media post game, a clearly frustrated Coleman explained.
‘It is not a game where we have been dominated. Sometimes we come off and I think we have not been involved in the game or we have never had a say in the game but that wasn`t the case today.’
With a lack of chances for both sides in general – Sunderland did of course fail to register a shot on target, Coleman went on to say.
‘In the first half I don`t really remember Jason Steele having a save to make. I can`t really remember their keeper either having to make one, but it was a tight game. Of course, being forced down to 10 just five minutes into the second half was a huge psychological blow.’
Some may take the following words as a sign that Coleman is out of ideas on how to shake things up as hope is now quickly replaced with more dread and a sense of acceptance but the gap to safety is only four points still.
‘But when you are bottom of the league you think here we go again. They got a goal and it wasn`t good defending from us. It is hard for me to ask the players for more because they did try. They worked hard but in vital areas it is just that composure and confidence. Another game has passed us by.’
