Jack Ross happy to launch Sunderland stint with dramatic victory

Posted Saturday, August 04, 2018 by PA

Jack Ross does not think there is a better way to start life as a Sunderland manager than by winning in dramatic fashion like his team did against Charlton.

With the score level at the Stadium of Light, after Josh Maja’s 65th-minute strike had cancelled out Lyle Taylor’s 10th-minute opener for Charlton, Black Cats winger Lynden Gooch headed in a fine winner deep into stoppage time.

The 2-1 triumph secured three points from Sunderland’s first competitive game of the Stewart Donald era and the 30,000-plus crowd celebrated like back-to-back relegations were a thing of the past.

Ross said: “I’m delighted to win the game, start with a win and I don’t think there is a better way of winning it. There is a less stressful, easier way but that feeling, the euphoria you get as a club, with the supporters, and staff, it is enjoyable to do it in that manner.

“It was a very competitive game but the willingness to get the points. For the players to go right to the end was encouraging because we got better as the game went on.”

Of his goalscorers, Ross said: “Both players have good quality. I have watched a lot of them before I came to the club. It is also encouraging to bring that out of them.

“Lynden has been outstandingly good for us in pre-season, he will be a top player for us this season.

“Josh is a really good finisher, when he shifts it and hits the target, with both feet… it is just about encouraging him to do it. I want him to keep doing it.

“They are two young men who have come through the club, that’s encouraging as well.”

While Ross was clearly delighted with the outcome on an afternoon when his side trailed, Charlton manager Lee Bowyer was clearly less enthusiastic.

The Addicks had looked in command and capable of returning to London with the points, although he was clearly frustrated after he had left the dressing room to face the media.

Charlton, fielding just three starters from the side that lost the second leg of the play-off semi-final against Shrewsbury in May, still have quality in their ranks to cause problems in Sky Bet League One.

Bowyer, a former Newcastle midfielder, said: “At half-time we were happy, I thought we deserved to go in leading but unfortunately the game is over 90 minutes and we had to hang on at the end.

“I don’t think we deserved to lose, it is a hard way to lose, in injury time as well, but the first goal should never have happened.

“For the striker to receive the ball and then shoot without anyone stopping him, that should not happen. It was not good enough from us, then the crowd get going and the place lifted and we couldn’t get out of our half really.

“We invited our own trouble towards the end and the second goal is a great delivery and the lad came in on the blindside, it was just a great ball, and a great finish, it happens in the game and unfortunately it happened to us.

“I think we will be up there and Sunderland have spent money and it is a difficult place to come and play as I know from my own experience, they move the ball well and they have good players and I expect us to be up and around it at the end of the season.”