Sunderland’s response with 10 men was outstanding – Jack Ross

Posted Wednesday, October 03, 2018 by PA

Jack Ross paid tribute to his Sunderland players for emerging with a point against second-placed Peterborough after Bryan Oviedo was sent off in the second half.

The Costa Rican defender was dismissed with 22 minutes remaining when he kicked out at Posh’s Marcus Maddison. Sunderland were ahead at the time courtesy of Josh Maja’s 21st-minute opener.

Six minutes after Oviedo was dismissed, Peterborough levelled through Joe Ward and then, after Jerome Sinclair had put Sunderland ahead again in the 79th minute, former Newcastle striker Ivan Toney struck a second equaliser with five minutes left.

Ross said: “I thought we were very good, different aspects were really good. First half we were miles ahead. Second half we had to be resilient, we did that well, then the response we had with 10 men was outstanding.

“For my team to go and try to win the game from that position is testament to my team.

“I don’t have an issue with the sending-off, I have watched it again. I don’t think the contact reflected the reaction, but that’s what opposition players do.

“It is out of character, he is disappointed in the changing room. Tonight was more about accentuating a number of positives because they deserved to win the game.

“As manager of this club and the group of players, we want to win every single game, we take that expectation on our shoulders and we try to win. We did that. There are not players in there who are happy with a draw, even with 10 men.”

Peterborough boss Steve Evans was also satisfied with the point, knowing his team have stayed four ahead of Sunderland, who sit fourth.

Evans said: “First half we thought we had them for 15 minutes, but it wasn’t (Siriki) Dembele’s night so we changed it. He was giving the ball away cheaply. We made a bad error and it was a great finish from the lad (Maja).

“Second half we changed it, went back to believing in having a go away from home. We were direct, we have played them off the pitch second half bar a mistake by one of our defenders for the second goal. But we have to learn from our defensive mistakes and we will.

“The referee could only make that (red card) decision, it was a shocking challenge, the referee got that right. It was two good teams who went toe-to-toe. They were better first half and we were the better second half. We are disappointed not to take all three.

“This is a hard place to get anything and we think Sunderland will challenge for promotion, so credit to the group. This is a great place and the fans are great, they are so good they get so many decisions for them.”