'I won't select them' - Sunderland boss delivers message to any 'complacent' players

Sunderland may look well and truly out of the play-off picture, but Mike Dodds has a message for any player who acts like there is nothing to play for.

Mike Dodds has warned he won’t be selecting any Sunderland players who show any signs of ‘complacency’ as the Black Cats season slips away into oblivion.

Sunderland were well-positioned to challenge for the play-offs just a few weeks ago, but four straight defeats to Huddersfield, Birmingham, Swansea and Norwich has left them marooned in the middle of the Championship table.

It leaves Sunderland essentially with little to play for, but Dodds says he won’t stand for any drop in commitment from any player.

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"I know we're in a spot at the moment and I appreciate that,” Dodd said.

“I watch the group train and work every day and if I felt there was a level of complacency or people not being solely focused on the task at hand which is to try and achieve the top six then I wouldn't select them.

"Last year we went on an amazing run and I think we're really close to doing really well. There's some fine margins that just aren't going our way, but that's not an excuse.

“I've said to the players there that we have to keep working on what we do, and I firmly believe that we'll start coming out on the other side of the results that we're getting.

“If we stay focused, the tide will turn sooner rather than later."

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