Sunderland Secure Consecutive Wins with 2-1 Victory Over Cardiff City
Sunderland notched back-to-back wins with a 2-1 triumph over Cardiff City at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
Cardiff City manager Régis Le Bris admitted he wasn’t surprised that his side’s first-half goal was allowed to stand, despite Sunderland’s protests. The equalizer came when Anthony Patterson spilled Callum O’Dowda’s cross, allowing Isaak Davies to pounce on the rebound. Sunderland players, including Patterson, felt that Yousef Salech had fouled the goalkeeper in the buildup, but the referee saw no infringement and awarded the goal.
Despite the controversial moment, Sunderland went on to claim all three points, thanks to a close-range strike from Chris Mepham. While Le Bris acknowledged that Patterson may have had a case for a foul, he believes the team must learn from the experience.
“It’s difficult to judge,” Le Bris said. “The culture in England is different. In France, I think the referee would have given a foul, but we weren’t surprised it wasn’t given. What we can control is how Patterson manages the situation, and he will have to learn from it.”
Le Bris Highlights Areas for Improvement After Hard-Fought Win
Although pleased with the victory, Le Bris expressed frustration over Sunderland’s inability to capitalize on their early dominance. He emphasized that developing a ruthless edge is crucial if his team wants to reach the next level.
“We started well, scored early, and for the first 20 minutes, we played exactly how we wanted—high pressure, proactive defense, and quick ball movement,” he said. “We created chances, but by halftime, I was a little disappointed. If we had maintained that level, we could have scored two or three more goals.”
Sunderland controlled large portions of the match but allowed Cardiff to find a way back into the game. Le Bris acknowledged that while his side responded well in the latter stages, they need to develop a more dominant and consistent approach.
“We were better towards the end, but it felt more like a reaction rather than total control,” he continued. “We need to build consistency and become more dominant. Our opponents defended well, but if we want to raise our level, being more ruthless is the next step.”
Despite the challenges, Le Bris remains optimistic about the team’s progress this season.
“We won the game, and overall, our season has been very positive. It has been tough at times, but even when we struggle, you can see the team’s personality and character. We find solutions and react well, and that’s an important quality.”
