MIKE DODDS remains confident Sunderland are close to ‘turning the tide’ and has not given up on their play-off hopes despite a fourth consecutive Championship defeat against Norwich City.
Dodds has now suffered back-to-back defeats since taking over as interim head coach for a second time this season after Josh Sargent’s goal nine minutes from time was enough to hand Sunderland a 16th defeat this season to leave them nine points adrift of sixth place.
After what had been a chastening return to the dugout against Swansea City, Dodds at least saw a competitive response from his side in what was close encounter at Carrow Road.
Sunderland weathered a storm that saw Norwich twice hit the woodwork before gaining a foothold in the game and being denied by the crossbar themselves when substitute Abdoullah Ba attempted to catch out Angus Gunn at his near post.
But just as Dodds’ side were enjoying their most productive spell in the second half, Norwich struck through Sargent.
“I know we’re in a spot, I appreciate that. But I watch the group work every single day and if I felt there was a level of complacency, or people not being solely focused on the task at hand which is to try and achieve the top six, then I wouldn’t select them. It would be that simple for me.
“Last year we went on an amazing run and I feel we’re really close to doing really well and at the moment there are some fine margins that just aren’t going our way.
“That’s not an excuse, that’s not a luck thing because I believe you make your own luck and I’ve said to the players we’ve got to keep doing what we’re doing and keep focusing on how hard we work every day and I’m a firm believer the bi-product of that will be the other side of the current results that we’re getting.
“I see a group who is striving to improve and is striving to get better, I don’t see a group that has given up on that.
“What we have to do is keep doing what we’re doing on the training pitch, which is a really positive thing, and sooner rather than later the tide will turn if we just stay focused and concentrate on what we’re doing.”
