Jack Ross delighted with Sunderland’s second-half display
Posted Sunday, August 26, 2018 by PA
Sunderland manager Jack Ross praised his players for raising their game in the second half to take all three points in a 2-1 win over AFC Wimbledon.
A second-half brace from Lee Cattermole cancelled out Joe Pigott’s ninth-minute opener to maintain the Black Cats’ unbeaten start to the season.
And after their win over Gillingham in the week, it means Ross’ side have won back-to-back away games.
He said: “I thought they were really good in the first half, although from my point of view I thought we were poor.
“We were outworked and outfought. But I felt that if we had faith in what we did, we would get opportunities in the second half.
“They worked us hard in the first half and the players looked a bit mentally fatigued, so we wanted to get them in at half-time. But the positive was that carrot there for them to get back into the game.
“I thought we finished the first half slightly better, but from the middle to the latter half of the half, I was happy to get in at 1-0 because we weren’t good.
“We were always going to change things early in the second half.
“We knew who we had in our head and knew that if we started the half okay we could make those changes. We’ve got that our disposal, but those players still have to produce when they go on the pitch.”
AFC Wimbledon’s physical attacking line caused Sunderland plenty of first-half problems, and Pigott swivelled neatly to fire home a first-time volley after Andy Barcham surged past Donald Love to cross from the left.
It was a different story after the break, though, with the visitors offering much more of a threat, and Sunderland levelled midway through the second half.
Lynden Gooch crossed from the left, the ball rebounded off Will Nightingale and Cattermole was able to prod home from close range.
Cattermole claimed his second goal with seven minutes left, drilling home a first-time volley after Chris Maguire crossed from the right.
AFC Wimbledon manager Neil Ardley said: “We asked our players to play at a high tempo and take the game to Sunderland and really go at them. We did that, particularly first half, and we were the better team.
“I knew they would do something in the second half to try and get control of the game. We needed a second goal to really kill this game off but we didn’t get it. Their quality told with their goals.
“We have to take our chances and kill teams off but, by and large, I said to them ‘you are a really good team’.
“I think Sunderland had that little bit more belief when they were in front of goal and that bit more quality.”
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