Ross backs Grigg to play important part in promotion push

Posted Wednesday, February 20, 2019 by PA

Jack Ross expects Will Grigg to play a key role in Sunderland’s promotion push after the £4m deadline-day signing opened his account for the club in a 4-2 win over Gillingham.

Grigg scored Sunderland’s third goal from the penalty spot as they closed to within four points of the automatic promotion positions at the top of Sky Bet League One.

Sunderland’s goals came from Lee Cattermole and Tom Flanagan before second-half penalties by Grigg and Aiden McGeady. Gillingham replied through Tom Eaves and Brandon Hanlan.

Northern Ireland international Grigg missed good chances in the recent games with Blackpool and Accrington Stanley, but any signs of nerves were dispelled as he scored from the spot and Ross expects him to make a major contribution in the final two and a half months of the season.

The Sunderland boss said: “Speaking to Will, he’s a balanced guy and he’s also got a lot of self-belief. I think most goalscorers who score a lot of goals over the course of their career have that in abundance.

“He’s not been fazed one bit and I’ve been pleased because I thought his performances had been good, and I knew he would score goals. It’s just nice for him to get that monkey off his back and get that first goal for the club.

“You saw how much it meant to him, and how delighted the other players were for him as well because he’s integrated himself well into the squad. I’ve no doubt he’ll continue to contribute in terms of goals between now and the end of the season.

“Aiden has given the opportunity to Will, but knowing Aiden, he’s only done that believing Will would score. And speaking to Will afterwards, he absolutely believed he would score as well.

“I’m delighted with the way it worked out and delighted Will showed that strength of character to want to get off the mark, and then do it in that manner.”

Gillingham boss Steve Lovell was pleased with his players’ spirit as they twice clawed back a deficit, but disappointed at the lackadaisical manner in which they handed Sunderland their goals.

Lovell said: “I thought we competed for all the game, it’s just disappointing to have conceded the goals like we did. We conceded early from a set-piece, which has been our downfall all season, and really it was the same for their second goal.

“It was nothing they created, it was goals we gave them, and the same was the case in the second half. We were in the game until the second penalty, but then we didn’t really have to change things after that.

“The referee has given the penalties, so we can’t do anything about that. It’s no use complaining. It’s more disappointing the way we gave away the earlier goals.

“Everybody has got their responsibilities and know the people they’ve got to mark, but the people who scored weren’t marked at all. We don’t get those chances in the box, so there’s no reason why we should be giving them to the people we’re playing against.”