Robbie Stockdale couldn’t have wished for a better game this Sunday, admitting victory can act as a catalyst to kick-start Sunderland’s season.
The Black Cats head to Middlesbrough this weekend as they begin life without Simon Grayson after he parted company with the club on Tuesday evening.
First-team coach Stockdale and Billy McKinlay will lead the lads on Sunday at the Riverside, kick-off 12.15pm, and while Sunderland have won just one of their 15 Sky Bet Championship games this season Stockdale believes if there was ever a fixture to change their season then this is it.
“I am not really interested in going over things that have happened in the past,” he said.
“All we can affect is the future and Sunday is important. We want to win the game, we have been in situations in the last month where we should’ve won games.
“Never mind draw or lose we should’ve won them. It is a start and a base to not to lose but how do we win it, how do we affect it, how do we break Middlesbrough down?
“(If we win on Sunday) it could act as a catalyst. I don’t think you could chose a better game for us to have.
“The players shouldn’t need much motivation for it and if you could choose a game it is the one I would choose.”
He continued: “We should have more points than we have. That’s not to say our performances have been great but I believe we have certainly thrown away points.
“I don’t see a lack of effort from the players, but I do see a lack of confidence and quality which I am asking them to produce on Sunday.”
