In the defeat to Stoke City, Tony Mowbray defended his choice to not start a known striker by claiming that neither Mason Burstow nor Nazariy Rusyn had been able to practice with the team before to the game.
Sunderland lost 2-1 as a result of sloppy defending at the start of each half, and Mowbray decided to start Alex Pritchard and Patrick Roberts as his most advanced players.
All three of the strikers were still on the field as the game concluded, with Luis Hemir joining Burstow and Rusyn in the action.
Although the Black Cats did had several notable openings thanks to Jack Clarke, Dan Ballard, and substitute Adil Aouchiche, none of the trio were able to produce a chance of note.
“Jewison Bennette didn’t actually get back until after our training session on Friday. He flew 11 hours from Costa Rica, you can’t play in those circumstances.
“You have to train and prepare for the game and we’d had Pritchard and Roberts working with us all week. Training was tough on Friday in the conditions with Storm Babet, so it was a very difficult preparation if I’m trying to defend the team a little bit. Of course, I know it was probably the same for Stoke City. We have to accept that defeat is part of the game, and try to bounce back on Tuesday.
“Jewison Bennette actually arrived back after our Friday training session. You can’t play when someone has just flown 11 hours from Costa Rica.
We had Pritchard and Roberts working with us all week as we trained and prepared for the game. If I’m trying to defend the team a little bit, it was a really difficult preparation since training was difficult on Friday due to Storm Babet’s circumstances. I am aware that Stoke City most likely experienced the same thing. We must acknowledge that losing is a part of the game and work to improve on Tuesday.
We decided to come here and attempt to play the way we know how to play because Rusyn and Mason were away on international duty. Although I don’t think it is the major problem, it is challenging when Burstow has played twice while away. Two games, a new style of play and preparation, followed by one training session to try to reintegrate.
“Even though Trai Hume and Dan Ballard were not available, we chose the team that we had been able to work with earlier in the week.
“Congratulations to Stoke. It seems like a lot of excuses. But if we had to judge ourselves, I’d say we fell short. With some solid practise, I’m confident we can return to our strengths and style of play.
Tuesday night, Sunderland travels to Leicester City.
