'A Sunderland team regardless of who's in charge' - Mike Dodds sends message to incoming coach

The second half performance against West Brom should serve as the blueprint for the new Sunderland head coach, according to Mike Dodds.

Michael Graham | Dec 10, 2023

'A Sunderland team regardless of who's in charge' - Mike Dodds sends message to incoming coach /

Mike Dodds says the second half performance against West Brom should provide the blueprint for a incoming coach, saying: ‘that was a Sunderland team.’

Dodds took charge of the team following the sacking of Tony Mowbray on Monday, leading them to a 2-1 win over the in-form Baggies.

That win was built on a fine second-half showing that saw goals from Dan Ballard and Dan Neil fire the Black Cats back into the play-off positions.

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Dodds will likely be in charge against Leeds as well before a new head coach is appointed – and he had a message for whoever that will be.

"I'm a perfectionist and I want to have complete control of the game, I didn't like elements of the first half where they had too much control of the ball, albeit without hurting us too much.

"I thought we controlled large spells of the second half. I didn't like the goal we conceded and we'll talk about that in the morning, but all in all I'm really proud. It's a huge win against a really good team in good form.

"I think they played through us and our shape a little too much. The second half I think is a Sunderland team regardless of who is in charge: Youthful, on the front foot, turning the game into 1-v-1 both attacking and defending, being brave in and out of possession.

“The second half, for me, is a Sunderland team."

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Published Dec 10, 2023

MICHAEL GRAHAM

Michael Graham is a professional sports writer with more than ten years of industry experience. After pursuing football writing by helping establish the Roker Report Sunderland AFC fansite, Michael moved to Planet Sport to cover football. Michael has since worked on many of the sports sites within the Planet Sport network, including Football365, TEAMtalk and Planet Football before leaving to join 90min. As well as football, Michael is an accomplished tennis writer and has been regularly featured on Tennishead, TennisBuzz and Tennis365. It is football that is his first love, though, with Sunderland AFC his particular passion. Contact: michael@buzzpublishing.co.uk