Edwards worries about Sunderland’s defense

Posted on 22nd January 2007

Sunderland player Carlos Edwards fears that defensive problems could ruin the club’s chances of getting promotion this season. Sunderland led 3-0 against Sheffield Wednesday but let their hosts come back to 3-2. In the Sunderland won 4-2 with with Edwards netting his first goal for the club. The result, though, did not stop boss Roy Keane making his feelings plain in the dressing room

“It is the first time I have seen that side of him,” said the Sunderland player. “He was right to be upset and the players were upset. I would rather I had not scored and we had come away with a 3-0 win. I knew coming off the pitch the gaffer would not be happy. Not many teams score four goals away from home and leave the ground without a smile on their faces, but we know the standards the gaffer expects. We want promotion, ideally in the top two, but it could be damaging if we keep conceding goals like that.”

The win lifted the Wearsiders to seventh place in the Championship and left them level on points with sixth-placed Cardiff. Edwards added: “We are happy with the three points, but at the same time there were a lot of negatives. We were comfortable at 3-0 so we cannot be happy it finished 4-2. The gaffer has the right to show his nice or nasty side. You can see why he was upset because from 3-0 we could have ended up 3-3. There was a bit of clumsy defending or lack of communication perhaps. Our goalkeeper had not had any saves to make and then they scored two goals. We have two weeks until the next game and we have to go to the training ground and try to sort that out.”

Earlier Sunderland news

Keane continues to keep plans on hold
Keane faces selection problem
Hysen not settling for the play-offs
Sunderland boosted with pair’s return to action
Evans would welcome extended stay
Result makes a change admits Keane
Stokes believes Sunderland can get promotion
Decision to join Sunderland was quick for Edwards
Sunderland trying to capture Warnock
Stead future in doubt as signings made
Hysen – I could have had a hat–trick
Patience the key says Keane
We can't be come back kings every week
Yorke gets glowing reference from manager
Ward urges Cats to keep focus