Former Sunderland star Jermain Defoe continues strong start to managerial career as Woking claim Gateshead win
Former Sunderland star Jermain Defoe enjoyed a successful return to the North East on Saturday.
Former Sunderland favourite Jermain Defoe made a winning return to the North East as his Woking side claimed all three points from their visit to National League rivals Gateshead on Saturday.
The Heed had been celebrating their remarkable escape from relegation in the aftermath of last weekend’s narrow win at Aldershot Town as they preserved their National League status for another season after being 11 points from safety as recently as the middle of February. For Defoe and his players, the aim was to extend their new manager’s unbeaten start to life in the dugout after the former Black Cats striker claimed two wins and two draws during his first four games in charge ahead of their visit to the International Stadium.
That run was extended as Harry Beautyman fired home a scrappy opener just before the half-hour mark and Matt Ward and Oliver Sanderson extended the lead to three as Woking claimed all three points against a Heed side managed by former Newcastle United goalkeeper Rob Elliot. Speaking after the win, Defoe praised his players for carrying out some specific tactical instructions he had given them before the game as his solid start to his managerial career was extended on Tyneside.
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He told the club’s YouTube channel: “I am delighted with the win, delighted with the performance and the clean sheet. Like Brace (Paul Bracewell, assistant manager) always says you start with a clean sheet and finish with a clean sheet. The subs came on again, impacted the game, which is what we wanted.
“But I think the pleasing thing for me was before the game I gave the boys tactically something to think about to try and stop them (Gateshead) playing in the middle of the pitch because they create a box in the middle of the pitch. We gave them a set up and for the players to go out an execute what we gave them in a perfect way is credit to the players. In fact, Gateshead had to come out in the second-half and change so credit to the players because they’re the ones that have gone out and done.”
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