BRADFORD, ENGLAND - JULY 30: Sunderland Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman talks to Head coach Regis Le Bris (R) during a Pre Season Friendly match between Bradford City and Sunderland at Coral Windows Stadium, Valley Parade on July 30, 2024 in Bradford, England. (Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
Plymouth Argyle inflicted Sunderland’s first Championship defeat of the season and Black Cats’ head coach Régis Le Bris admitted, “we were too open and allowed our opponent too many opportunities to score.”
Wayne Rooney’s side were able to scrape their first win of the campaign as Le Bris tasted defeat for the first time in the league as the Wearsiders boss. Le Bris says he hopes to learn from the loss which came late in the day as the Devon side scored their winner four minutes into stoppage time.
The result didn’t knock Sunderland off top spot, though, to show just what a superb start they have had to the campaign. Patrick Roberts handed the Black Cats a first-half lead from the penalty spot after Chris Rigg was pushed inside the box.
Rooney’s men fought back and turned the game on its head, through a Dan Ballard own goal and a Ryan Hardie spot kick. Romaine Mundle levelled in the 86th minute before Joe Edwards’ late winner left Le Bris with “many questions to solve.”
“I am disappointed because it was a tough game but we scored twice,” he said. “It is never easy to score but we did it. We had many problems during the first half to control their wingers.
“It wasn’t easy to solve that problem and during the second half we conceded two goals on the defensive transition. We were too open and the opponent had too many opportunities to score.
