Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup clash at Middlesbrough was simply a ‘bridge to far’ for Sunderland’s injury-plagued squad, admitted Chris Coleman following a 2-0 defeat at the Riverside Stadium.
The Welshman was without 11 first-team players and he handed a full debut to Ethan Robson, who impressed throughout, as Josh Maja led the line on Teesside.
Rudy Gestede opened the scoring after 10 minutes as Adama Traore shone during the early exchanges, and Tony Pulis’ side delivered a hammer blow on the stroke of half-time as Martin Braithwaite doubled their lead.
After the interval, Maja struck the crossbar and Ty Browning forced Darron Randolph into a superb save, but Boro refused to be breached as the Black Cats exited the cup at the first hurdle.
“Before we arrived here we knew it would be a mountain to climb because we have so many players unavailable, but I saw good things today,” said Coleman.
“There were some pluses but I just felt we needed a goal in the second-half and it could have been a different story, but we hit the crossbar and Randolph has made a great save.”
He continued: “You need one of those to go in but again we got into good positions in the final third, and we just lacked that focus for the final pass or cross, that little bit of quality.
“When you keep doing that you can get a bit despondent and I saw that in the players, but you can’t afford to do that and you have to keep going no matter what.
“We know where we are in the league, we’ve just been knocked out of the cup by our local rivals, and we’ve taken a ton of fans away again – I just wish we could give them a little bit of something to feel good about because that’s two defeats on the trot for us.”
Coleman also reserved special praise for debutant Robson following an impressive showing.
“Marc Wilson played in the centre of midfield – out of position – with his sleeves rolled up and trying his best, and we had a young debutant in Robbo and there’s nothing for him to be worried about that’s for sure.
“He’s got courage because it’s not easy to come into our situation where every game we go into is a must-win, as when you’re bottom of the league fingers are pointed and questions are asked no matter how old you are.”
He added: “He came in and I thought took the responsibility brilliantly.
“He played well, used the ball well and wasn’t fazed so good for him, but him and young Maja and Asoro are only going to get better.
“It’s hard yards and it’s tough now, but all the experience they are going to get will make them better."