AliousGraeme Murty has shared his thoughts on Sunderland under-21s’ impressive victory over Leeds United in the Premier League 2 on Monday night at Eppleton CW.
The Black Cats took control early in the match, thanks to a first-half brace from Finn Geragusain, before Harrison Jones extended their lead with a third goal after the break. Sunderland entered the fixture on the back of a disappointing Premier League Cup exit at the hands of Burnley the previous week. Prior to kickoff, they sat in 15th place in the league table but climbed to 12th with the victory. A top-12 finish would secure them a spot in the Premier League International Cup, while finishing in the top 16 would ensure qualification for the Premier League 2 play-offs at the end of the season.
Despite the win, Murty pushed back against the notion that Sunderland had enjoyed a comfortable outing, even though Leeds struggled to mount a successful comeback in the second half. When a reporter from *The Echo* suggested that his team had cruised to victory, Murty was quick to challenge the assessment.
“I wouldn’t say that,” Murty responded. “I think we need to set higher standards in terms of how we control the game. The second half became too chaotic. Leeds made tactical adjustments—they changed their shape and pressing strategy—and we didn’t handle that as well as I would have liked.”
However, Murty did acknowledge that Sunderland remained a constant attacking threat. “It was a good challenge for the lads. We told them that securing a clean sheet was crucial because we’ve conceded too many avoidable goals in the past. The defensive unit really wanted to keep that clean sheet, and we knew that if we managed to do so, we’d be in a strong position moving forward.”
Although he praised the team’s defensive resilience, Murty admitted that the players themselves felt a degree of frustration with the performance. “There’s a bit of an unsatisfying feeling about the win because the players know they can do better. If we had converted just one of the many chances we created, the game could have been a lot more comfortable, as you suggested.”
Speaking to Sunderland’s in-house media, Murty reiterated his pride in the team’s defensive discipline and overall approach but noted that the players felt the game lacked control at times. “I told the squad that I was really pleased with the clean sheet, the win, and their attitude going into the match. The players, however, felt that the game was a bit disjointed at times. That said, we managed to create plenty of chances against a team known for their strong defense, and realistically, we could—and probably should—have scored more.”
Sunderland will look to build on this momentum when they face Nottingham Forest at the Stadium of Light in their next fixture on Friday, April 4, at 7 p.m.
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