ERIC BLACK felt Sunderlandâs first victory of the season helped vindicate the approach the club has taken in preceding five matches.
But he also admitted that bold decision-making by manager Steve Bruce â who dropped skipper Lee Cattermole and Jack Colback from his midfield to accommodate David Vaughan and Craig Gardner â was pivotal in the Black Catsâ 4-0 success against Stoke.
He said: âAs a management team, we have to look at the quality of performances and I think weâve played quite well in some games this season, so it hasnât been all doom and gloom from our point of view â we just havenât got the results weâve wanted.
âThere was never any pressure from us internally.âThe players have trained the same way as they have done from day one.
âThatâs what you have to stay focused on â leaving all the external stuff to others â weâve just felt that weâve needed a little bit of a break, something going our way and we got that on the day.
âItâs not always easy to bring in 10 new players and just fit them into an existing structure, it takes a bit of time.
âWeâre not offering excuses because thereâs plenty of other teams who are in the same boat as us. But I think the Stoke game showed the quality of players the manager has brought in because that was there for everyone to see.
âHe didnât leave the captain out lightly. Jack Colback was also a big call because heâs performed exceptionally well, but thatâs why heâs the manager. Heâs paid to make these calls and I think, against Stoke, he got them right.â
Black argued that, on another day, the Newcastle derby last month could have been another Stoke.
âI thought our first half against Newcastle â no-one would have argued if weâd been two or three up at half-time â was good (like against Stoke). It didnât work out that way unfortunately,â he said.
âWe are in a results business and victories are all that matter â especially against your closest rivals â but we have to try to step back a bit.
âI know it hurts to get beaten in a derby and it hurts the manager more than anyone, I can assure you.
âBut it wasnât a bad performance and what you have to do is keep doing what you believe is right and hope it works out for you.â
Black was pleased for Bruce, who has been through the mill since the derby.
âUnder the circumstances, the manager has had to put up over the last few weeks, especially with him being from this area. I think heâll be a happy man over the next few days.â he said.
âIt hurts him.
âPeople think heâs this big robust character, but it hurts him.
âHeâs a winner and always has been and it hurts him when it doesnât go the way he wants it.
âSometimes the criticism is unfair because he works hard and he puts decent teams together, but, such is life â thatâs the pressure on a manager in the Premier League.â
Pick the bits out of that!
Like the part about no pressure internally.........
But he also admitted that bold decision-making by manager Steve Bruce â who dropped skipper Lee Cattermole and Jack Colback from his midfield to accommodate David Vaughan and Craig Gardner â was pivotal in the Black Catsâ 4-0 success against Stoke.
He said: âAs a management team, we have to look at the quality of performances and I think weâve played quite well in some games this season, so it hasnât been all doom and gloom from our point of view â we just havenât got the results weâve wanted.
âThere was never any pressure from us internally.âThe players have trained the same way as they have done from day one.
âThatâs what you have to stay focused on â leaving all the external stuff to others â weâve just felt that weâve needed a little bit of a break, something going our way and we got that on the day.
âItâs not always easy to bring in 10 new players and just fit them into an existing structure, it takes a bit of time.
âWeâre not offering excuses because thereâs plenty of other teams who are in the same boat as us. But I think the Stoke game showed the quality of players the manager has brought in because that was there for everyone to see.
âHe didnât leave the captain out lightly. Jack Colback was also a big call because heâs performed exceptionally well, but thatâs why heâs the manager. Heâs paid to make these calls and I think, against Stoke, he got them right.â
Black argued that, on another day, the Newcastle derby last month could have been another Stoke.
âI thought our first half against Newcastle â no-one would have argued if weâd been two or three up at half-time â was good (like against Stoke). It didnât work out that way unfortunately,â he said.
âWe are in a results business and victories are all that matter â especially against your closest rivals â but we have to try to step back a bit.
âI know it hurts to get beaten in a derby and it hurts the manager more than anyone, I can assure you.
âBut it wasnât a bad performance and what you have to do is keep doing what you believe is right and hope it works out for you.â
Black was pleased for Bruce, who has been through the mill since the derby.
âUnder the circumstances, the manager has had to put up over the last few weeks, especially with him being from this area. I think heâll be a happy man over the next few days.â he said.
âIt hurts him.
âPeople think heâs this big robust character, but it hurts him.
âHeâs a winner and always has been and it hurts him when it doesnât go the way he wants it.
âSometimes the criticism is unfair because he works hard and he puts decent teams together, but, such is life â thatâs the pressure on a manager in the Premier League.â
Pick the bits out of that!
Like the part about no pressure internally.........
