Simon Grayson is keen to build on the feel good factor that emanated across Wearside on Friday following Sunderland's opening Sky Bet Championship match against Derby.
In his pre-Bury press conference, Grayson also discussed transfer rumours for both incoming and outgoing players, with Jeremain Lens' departure to Turkish club Beşiktaş being confirmed yesterday.
Here are the main talking points from Friday's match...
Feel good factor
SG: "After the week we had it was good to get back to what really mattered and that was the football. To get a performance and result like we did it was very pleasing. The players could’ve been questioned when we went 1-0 down to Derby but they answered a lot of questions that have been thrown at them over the last few weeks. It was a good response from the players. We are disappointed not to have won the game but ultimately a lot of people left the ground on Friday in a vibrant, positive mood. It is a big stadium to fill for a Championship game – that is not easy to do. Ultimately, we are trying to get as many in as possible and with better performances and a feel good factor around the city, will only help to encourage people to come."
Transfer rumours
SG: "(Lens has gone) and we move on with the present squad with players who want to be here. I have always said if you don’t want to be part of this group, taking this club forward again, then I will drive them there myself. There have been plenty of calls going on and people are ringing me desperate to come to this club. We haven’t made any approaches to clubs for any players in this moment in time, we wanted to get the game out of the way on Friday and let things settle down and see how the lads did. We are in the market to bring players in for the right valuation. We aren’t going to pay over the odds for players and they have got to be the right type. We will wait and see and we have still got a couple of loan players we could go after."
Fixture pile up
SG: "(It is very difficult) because I treat this competition (Carabao Cup) very seriously. I always like at the start of the season to play my strongest squad to get unity, confidence, and an understanding. With us playing on Thursday, Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday it is a real sort juggling act. The large part of the team will be very like Friday night but I have to think about the Norwich game and then the Sheffield Wednesday game and then the Leeds game after that. Four games in nine games is quite relentless and difficult for a lot of teams. We have to deal with it and whoever goes out there representing the club will have to try and win the game.”
