Following today’s clash between Sunderland and Middlesbrough, here are the instant reactions from both managers.
Sunderland hosted Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light for a 3pm kick off on Saturday February 24, with both sides playing out a three all draw in a topsy turvy six goal thriller.
The hosts opened the scoring after eleven minutes with Joel Asoro finding the net but they saw red for Jake Clarke-Salter and with 15 odd minutes elapsing, Boro saw red for Adama Traore and the game exploded into action.
Boro pulled one back through Patrick Bamford, before Grant Leadbitter dispatched from the penalty spot to give them the advantage.
Sunderland battled back and Jonny Williams had them back on level terms just ahead of the hour mark, but Bamford completed his brace and looked to have delivered all three points to them in the 68th minute.
However Callum McManaman clearly wanted to prove a point to former boss Tony Pulis and made that clear with his celebration as he saved a point six minutes into stoppage time.
Teams:
Sunderland:
Camp, Kone, O’Shea, Clarke-Salter, Cattermole, Matthews, McNair (Williams 42), Honeyman (McGeady 79), Oviedo, Asoro, Maja (McManaman 65).
Substitutes:
Steele, Jones, Browning, Robson.
Middlesbrough:
Randolph, Shotton, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, Besic, Leadbitter (Clayton 76), Traore, Downing (Howson 77), Bamford, Assombalonga (Harrison 64).
Substitutes:
Konstantopoulos, Cranie, Fry, Baker.
Speaking to the BBC’s cameras a short time after match day referee Tim Robinson blew the final whistle, Sunderland manager Chris Coleman explained.
‘If we want to keep our home supporters with us, to keep them coming, then we have to keep doing what we did today and against Bolton. We have to go for it and stay in our games. If we do that more often than not we will get points. It’s not easy but it’s very doable. There will be a time when we win and it will change the face of everything. I wouldn’t argue about either red card. We were hampered more by losing Jake than they were losing Traore, even though they lose an exciting player. We lost shape.’
Middlesbrough head coach Tony Pulis in his comparative interview explained.
‘We conceded two goals from a long throw and a corner. That is disappointing. There’s really good things about this team I like, but other things they have to really toughen up to. Seeing games out is one of them. Adama’s sending-off was a disappointment, Oviedo has walked round the back of him and poked him in the eye, Adama has raised his hands and shouldn’t have shoved him in the chest.’
