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SEB LARSSON today delivered a damning verdict on Sunderlandâs attacking threat â admitting the Black Cats simply arenât up to scratch.
Top scorer Larssonâs eighth minute strike in Saturdayâs clash with Wigan should have prompted a rout from the hosts, given Sunderland were facing a ragged side at the foot of the Premier League, who had managed just two away goals all season.
But Sunderland failed to add to their tally during a dominant opening spell and were punished by Jordi Gomezâs penalty on the stroke of half-time and Franco Di Santoâs stoppage time winner â to leave the Stadium of Light calling for the head of boss Steve Bruce.
Although Larsson reiterated his belief that Bruce should stay at the helm, the Swedish midfielder insists Sunderland must face the truth of their inadequacies up front.
Larsson told the Echo: âWeâre just not good enough in the final third, letâs be honest.
âNo disrespect to Wigan, but we should be winning those types of games.
âWe got off to the start we needed and the one we wanted to.
âWe could have been two or three up after the opening 30 minutes, but thatâs been our problem all season. We donât take our chances.
âWe donât put the game beyond doubt and we did the same thing again.
âThey got a penalty and in the second half, it gets nervy and edgy. When we got down the sides of them, we werenât good enough.ââ
The 26-year-old added: âI still believe heâs (Bruce) the right man for the job.
âBut Iâm not surprised by how the fans reacted.
âWe lost a game at home that we should have won if we want to get to where we want to be.
âWe have to take a long look at ourselves and see why things are going the way they are.
âThatâs the Achilles heel, because we havenât conceded that many goals.â
SEB LARSSON today delivered a damning verdict on Sunderlandâs attacking threat â admitting the Black Cats simply arenât up to scratch.
Top scorer Larssonâs eighth minute strike in Saturdayâs clash with Wigan should have prompted a rout from the hosts, given Sunderland were facing a ragged side at the foot of the Premier League, who had managed just two away goals all season.
But Sunderland failed to add to their tally during a dominant opening spell and were punished by Jordi Gomezâs penalty on the stroke of half-time and Franco Di Santoâs stoppage time winner â to leave the Stadium of Light calling for the head of boss Steve Bruce.
Although Larsson reiterated his belief that Bruce should stay at the helm, the Swedish midfielder insists Sunderland must face the truth of their inadequacies up front.
Larsson told the Echo: âWeâre just not good enough in the final third, letâs be honest.
âNo disrespect to Wigan, but we should be winning those types of games.
âWe got off to the start we needed and the one we wanted to.
âWe could have been two or three up after the opening 30 minutes, but thatâs been our problem all season. We donât take our chances.
âWe donât put the game beyond doubt and we did the same thing again.
âThey got a penalty and in the second half, it gets nervy and edgy. When we got down the sides of them, we werenât good enough.ââ
The 26-year-old added: âI still believe heâs (Bruce) the right man for the job.
âBut Iâm not surprised by how the fans reacted.
âWe lost a game at home that we should have won if we want to get to where we want to be.
âWe have to take a long look at ourselves and see why things are going the way they are.
âThatâs the Achilles heel, because we havenât conceded that many goals.â