Sunderland manager’s top-two admission as double injury blow confirmed for Leeds United’s promotion rivals
Defeat for Sunderland could see them fall further away from Championship leaders Leeds United come Monday.
Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris admits the consequences of mistakes are ‘significant’ at the top of the Championship as his side dropped more points in the promotion race.
The Black Cats followed up Monday’s crushing late defeat at Leeds United with a 1-0 home loss against strugglers Hull City, with goalkeeper Anthony Patterson fumbling into his own net for the game’s only goal. Whites loanee Joe Gelhardt played a big role in the eventual winner, with his 18th-minute corner somehow going in via a combination of Patterson and Patrick Roberts.
Promotion-chasing Sunderland dominated possession but struggled to break down a resolute Hull side, with frustration evident inside the Stadium of Light as a second straight defeat became reality. The fourth-placed Black Cats remain 10 points behind table-topping Leeds, who face Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Monday night, and Le Bris acknowledged the cost of his side’s mistakes at a time when the margin for error is so slim.
“It’s a long journey with many games to play and I hope we can find some solutions,” Le Bris told the Sunderland Echo following his side’s defeat. “To be competitive in the top six is different to the middle of the table, where you can make mistakes and learn from them. But at this level, mistakes are different because the consequences are significant. We will have to manage this situation.
