Kick ****e out of them, some of them deserve it SUNDERLAND'S players finally got to experience Martin O'Neill's angry side in the wake of Tuesday night's desultory display at Blackburn. The Black Cats slipped to a deserved defeat at Ewood Park as second-half goals from Junior Hoilett and Ayegbeni Yakubu pulled Blackburn six points clear of the relegation zone. Last month's 4-0 defeat at the Hawthorns remains Sunderland's heaviest defeat of the season, but Tuesday's performance was arguably worse as O'Neill's side failed to record a single attempt on target. The Northern Irishman had regained his composure by the time he addressed the press in the bowels of Ewood Park, but midfielder David Vaughan has revealed he was much less placid in the dressing room in the immediate aftermath of the game. "It was a very bad night at the office," said Vaughan, who returned to the starting line-up on Tuesday after an absence of nine matches. "The manager told us one or two things he wanted us to put right. "I think it was the maddest I've seen him, me personally. He wasn't very happy, but that's understandable because he has set very high standards for us. Now it is up to us to put things right and show what we're really about." Having beaten Liverpool in their previous league game and secured a battling FA Cup draw with Everton three days earlier, there had been little warning of what was to follow as Sunderland prepared to kick-off on Tuesday. However, their performance was flat from the word go, perhaps reflecting the relative security of the club's position in the middle of the table. Motivation should not be a problem when the Stadium of Light stages an FA Cup quarter-final replay next Tuesday, but O'Neill must first ensure his players do not lack inspiration when QPR visit Wearside in the league this weekend. Changes to the starting line-up are anticipated, although Vaughan claims it is hard to put his finger on what went wrong against Rovers. "It was such a disappointing evening after the last few results," he said. "After everything that we've managed to achieve over the last few months, it just isn't like us to play like that. "It was a very unusual performance for us - under Martin O'Neill. We want to put it right over the weekend and get back to winning ways. "I think you just have to put it down to one of those things. If we were playing badly all the time then maybe it would be a reason to worry, but we've been doing really well. It is just hard to put your finger on it." Tuesday's defeat leaves Sunderland in ninth position, two points adrift of eighth-placed Swansea City. European qualification via the league looks extremely unlikely, although a place in the FA Cup final might well prove good enough for a Europa Cup spot, but having finished tenth last season, Vaughan is hoping to help the Black Cats into the top eight by the end of the current campaign. "Eighth is still our minimum target," he said. "We want to win as many games as we can and get as far in the Cup as we can too. "But we want to finish eighth, which would be a great achievement after the first few months. To do that we've got to bounce back because Tuesday wasn't good enough from us. We're a better team than that."
It's good to know that MON can kick a few arses when he needs to. You can be sure that they'll take notice. As for not being able to put a finger on the problem, I bet MON knows exactly where the problem lies and will be having words with those failing to meet expectations.
I bet he has a really fiery temper when he gets going. He has so much obvious passion that both his touchline enthusiasm and dressing room anger will be equally measured when required. He is still learning about these players and you can learn as much in defeat as in victory. I think he will know now which ones he will want to keep and build on and which ones he will move on. I know I do.
