Lee Johnson on Sunderland's extensive defensive debrief - what needs to change & why he's still positive

On Tuesday night Lee Johnson made the candid admission that there was a 'little textbook' on how to beat Sunderland.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

His side had played some encouraging fluid, counter-pressing football in the early weeks of the campaign but perhaps unsurprisingly, teams have gone increasingly physical to counter them.

This has been a particularly brutal week, eight goals conceded in two games on the road.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Johnson has begin work to address it, noting that his side have left themselves too exposed in their eagerness to get on top of the opposition.

Sunderland boss Lee JohnsonSunderland boss Lee Johnson
Sunderland boss Lee Johnson

His press conference, for example, was later than anticipated as a meeting with players on the defensive protocol ran well over schedule.

The head coach is adamant that this side can be successful, but knows the importance of finding a better balance.

"You can consider everything," Johnson said, asked about the key aspects of the debrief from those two trips.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"What you've first got to do is understand the motivation of this team, and that's to try and go and press high, to win every 50-50 ball.

"We've been caught too stretched on too many occasions.

"So the first recognition point is to build from that position of strength, make sure we're compact and really diligent in our defensive duties, to then go and allow the forward players to be creative.

"Maybe the dial we've turned slightly too much in terms of open, expansive play. We've got to be good at that, but we've also got to make sure we produce those world-class basics.

"There's tiny, intricate detail, communication and coaching that needs to go into that, to be able to keep our next clean sheets because I always feel like this team's got goals in it.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"We're giving ourselves a hard task at the moment by conceding that first goal.

"This is where we [coaches] do our work.

"It's the pressure on the ball, the cover and balance, the midfielder's positioning. We've been very eager to press high and early, and at times we've made big decisions and left ourselves stretched."

Johnson says he is aware, and respects, the fact that the fact his young squad are in the early stages of their journey is modest compensation for the fanbase watching their fourth League One campaign, still travelling in huge numbers and with vocal backing.

The reaction to three consecutive league defeats has drawn reference to losing runs Johnson has experienced at previous clubs.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He points to the Carabao Cup win over QPR as a sign that this is, at this point at least, a touch unfair.

But he is not willing to use young players, learning as they are, as an excuse for the dip.

And he remains insistent that the club is on the right path both for this season and the long run.

We can expect to hear the word balance a lot more over the coming weeks, though, as he bids to bounce back and find the solutions to the problems that have undoubtedly been exposed in the last couple of weeks.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"We talk about young players, but to be fair the mistakes have been fairly equally spread with the senior players," he said.

"In one of the recent games it was one of the oldest teams we've picked. So there's no way I'm deflecting onto the young players, though they of course have the most learning to do.

"I think if you break down any manager's record there will be spells.

"We're just trying to stay consistent, reflect on each game. You can have tough runs in any division.

"I know we've got a good run in us.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I see it as a two-game run because we had a big game against QPR in terms of it being a big test for us, and one that allows us to go and have what should be a really special game against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup.

"I can't affect what people think of me and my runs [of form], all I can say is that there is so much good stuff happening here.

"It's a project that's been ripped up in the summer, start again, deal with the financial implications of COVID at a club that was haemorrhaging money.

"There's been investment into all areas of the club and up until nine days ago we were buzzing. That's the magnitude of the club and you have to cope with that to be here.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I know the fanbase will come back round when we show the things we need to show, and I believe that we will.

"I respect the desire for promotion this season and I'm at one with that," he added.

"We'll do everything we can to try and deliver promotion.

"There are so many points to play for.

"We've won a lot of games this year. There's things to look at and say actually, let's just breathe, we're not that bad, we can continue to win games and we do have a window of opportunity to recruit.

"Until then, we've got I think 30 points to play for and really good players.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"We want to advance in the cups and win league games and I don't see any reason why, if we organise ourselves to the best of our abilities, why that attacking intent can't come out at the right time as well.

"If we nail that balance, we'll continue to pick up some really good results."

A message from the Football Clubs Editor

Our aim is to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative Sunderland AFC coverage 365 days a year.

This depth of coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to, please consider taking out a subscription to our new sports-only package here.

Your support is much appreciated. Richard Mennear, Football Clubs Editor