Sess: First goal’s a major boost for Johnson
GOAL JOY ... Sunderland's Adam Johnson (second right) celebrates with team-mates after scoring against Everton.
STEPHANE Sessegnon believes a first goal in red and white will kick-start Adam Johnson’s Sunderland career.
Johnson produced by far his most impressive display since his £10million summer switch from Manchester City in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Everton and capped it by becoming the first Sunderland player after Steven Fletcher to find the net in the Premier League this season.
But the 25-year-old, snubbed by England boss Roy Hodgson for Wednesday’s friendly in Sweden, missed out on becoming the first Sunderland player to secure a Goodison Park victory in 16 years after Everton notched two goals in two second half minutes to inflict a third successive defeat on the Black Cats.
Sessegnon, who himself was much-improved on Merseyside, is confident that Johnson’s strike will give him a major confidence boost though after struggling to make an impression since his August arrival at the Stadium of Light.
Sessegnon said: “It will be good for him to get that goal. We all know the quality of Johnno, but at the same time, we know it’s been difficult for him at the start of the season.
“But that’s not unusual. It’s often difficult for players when they’re moving to a new club.
“Hopefully that will be the goal which gives him some more confidence, and probably for the team as well. He’s got so much ability and now he can play with some more freedom. It’s just unfortunate that his goal was not the winner.”
Johnson’s stoppage time strike was the fourth clear-cut chance Sunderland mustered in the first half, but ultimately the failure of Sessegnon, Steven Fletcher and Jack Colback to add to the advantage was to prove costly.
Although Sunderland looked comfortable defensively as Everton monopolised possession in the second half, quick-fire strikes from Marouane Fellaini and Nikica Jelavic meant a far more heartening display from Martin O’Neill’s side still culminated in defeat.
“I think, attacking-wise, it was our best match of the season so far and there were lots of positives to take,” said Sessegnon.
“We were dangerous on the counter-attack and in the end, it was hard luck because I think if we had got a second goal, it would have been enough to win. We had four occasions to score in the first half and if we had taken more than one, we’d have won.
“But we knew Everton had got the quality to come back at us. They didn’t have many chances which makes it even more disappointing because we ended up falling behind so quickly.”
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Saturday 18 May 2013
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