Michael Beale lays blame for Huddersfield defeat on 'the number nine position'

The Sunderland head coach had some familiar excuses after the defeat to Huddersfield.

Michael Beale blamed the lack of strikers after Sunderland sank to a disheartening loss to Huddersfield at the John Smith’s Stadium.

A first-half goal from Matty Pearson was enough to hand the Terriers a fully deserved 1-0 win, with Sunderland not even creating a chance until the 89th minute when Trai Hume went close.

However, Beale still laid the blame on his strikers, echoing the excuses that Tony Mowbray often offered as well.

Player ratings as Sunderland stink out the John Smith's Stadium

"We tried to gamble more in the second half and it made for a really open game - we certainly had opportunities,” Beale said.

“Trai had a big chance, their keeper makes an incredible save after, Paddy [Roberts] gets down the side and crosses it - where were we?! Then a corner to the back post, they're big moments.

"On our best day, I think we can be slightly better than the opposition but we're not going to blow anyone away. We don't score enough goals from the nine position to do that.

"There's not much between the teams, the game goes in waves and when our tails are up, we have to take our chances.

“In a tight game, we need to be scoring from a set play and not conceding them. It's natural to come away from home when their crowd are up - you're going to have difficult moments in the game.

“It's a pretty standard set play we've conceded from. We opened up in the second half and had our moments.”

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