Lee Johnson has labelled Sunderland’s defeat at Shrewsbury ‘mega-disappointing’ - and admitted he felt his side did not deserve anything from the game.
The Black Cats took the lead through Aiden O’Brien midway through the first half, but Ethan Ebanks-Landell levelled early in the second period and Harry Chapman completed the turnaround a little over 20 minutes from time to inflict Sunderland’s first league defeat on the road this season.
“It’s mega-disappointing,” said Johnson. “I think the boys are sat in there and maybe believe we were good enough to get a draw, but I’m not so sure myself.
“I didn’t think we started well enough in terms of our combination play and passing detail.
“We got our noses in front with a goal which was a really good goal, a great finish, and at that point you’re hoping the lads settle a little bit.
“But I didn’t think we did settle, they showed quite a lot of hustle and we lost too many duels in the middle of the pitch.”
Ebanks-Landell’s goal came as a result of a mistake by goalkeeper Remi Matthews, but Johnson said his players were substandard in all areas of the pitch.
He said: “Individual errors of course have cost us again. But I think it was on the back of to many lost duels, and too many times they skipped by us in the middle of the pitch.
“I think there’s a bit of a slight soft underbelly. I haven’t been here that long, but you’re looking to manage those moments in the game.
“Sometimes it’s quality, sometimes it’s that one that makes the big tackle that sets everybody off.
“I just thought communication wise, physical contact wise, we were just a bit timid.”
Johnson had brought Matthews into the side in place of Lee Burge, but that decision backfired.
He said: “There was no injury to Lee. I just made a selection decision.
“It was a difficult one – what do you do now?
“When I came in, I stuck with Burgey because that was the consistent thing to do – with a back four, both goalkeepers have kept clean sheets.
“You need a strong goalkeeper, I think your goalkeeper is a bit of a spiritual leader in terms of their presence and psychology.
“Remi will be disappointed today that he has made a couple of errors but at least he has owned up to it, he has held his hand up, and that for me is very, very important because then you can rebuild and go again.”
