Tony Mowbray was delighted with his team’s performance after claiming all three points against north east neighbours Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light.
The Head Coach provided an honest reflection on today’s result:
“Amad’s opportunity where he went one on one with the goalkeeper, where he read the goalkeeper's pass, you’re waiting for the net to bulge on that one.
“A brilliant bit of play that put Ross Stewart in, a great run across the front of the defender from six yards out and he puts it over the bar. You’re normally expecting the net to bulge on that.
“I think we knew we had played ok in the first half, we denied them to few clear-cut opportunities and created some ourselves.
“I think we deserved to win, I think we created the chances and moved the ball well today, I think we played against a good team who have got very definitive patterns of play and rotations in their team.
“We worked hard, and we were organised; it was the right result in my mind.”
Mowbray highlighted his delight with his player's effort since arriving at the club:
"I like this group of players and they work really hard; they are young players and as I keep saying they finished fifth in League One last year.
“They are adapting to this division, and they are working really hard to be a decent team. As I’ve said we have to incrementally grow it bit by bit.”
The gaffer was thrilled with Aji Alese's performance after weeks on the sideline due to injury:
“I need to mention Alese, he has had one training session in five weeks with the team. I pulled him into my office yesterday and said it’s either Jack Clarke at left-back or we need you to step up.
“He was delighted, it’s a huge credit to him as he’s not kicked a ball on the training pitch for five weeks to then start in a massive derby game; he did amazing.
“He came off because of cramp in the end which is understandable but it’s the attitude and personality that you want in your footballers.
“It was live on the television; his family and friends would have been watching and I suppose having not kicked a ball for five weeks it could have gone the other way for him.
“He was steady as a rock and done his job helping the team to a clean sheet, so huge credit to him.”
Mowbray acknowledged the ‘amazing’ influence of the fans throughout the full 90 minutes
“Our stadium today was amazing, not everytime you get that passion, emotion and noise that came from the stadium, today was what I remember as a player.
“Even back at Roker Park days when the crowd get wrapped up in the game and I hope the team plays its part in getting the crowd wrapped up in the game.
“When this place is singing and noisy it’s some atmosphere to play in."