'Real confidence': Alex Neil issues this upbeat Sunderland message after frustrating stalemate

Alex Neil insisted he has 'real confidence' in his Sunderland squad after a frustrating 0-0 draw with Charlton Athletic, insisting that they had done enough to win the game.
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The Black Cats dominated the first half, with Ross Stewart missing a couple of key chances from inside the box.

Though the second half was more open it was still the visitors who created the best openings, drawing some good saves from Charlton goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray and a couple of key blocks from the defenders in front of him.

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Sunderland have now dropped out of the League One play-off places, but Neil insists the signs are good for the rest of the campaign.

Sunderland boss Alex NeilSunderland boss Alex Neil
Sunderland boss Alex Neil

"I've got real confidence in this group," Neil said.

"The last two performances have been good. You always want your team to reflect you, that's what you want as a coach, and what I've said to the players is that the last thing I want us to be is a soft touch.

"We need to stand up, fight our corner, and then equally we need to have a quality to play through teams. I thought we showed all that today.

"They're a big strong team, they put balls in the box, you have to defend and fight.

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"Let's be honest, if we score today the conversation is about how well we played. It's frustrating that we didn't, but I thought we took care of our performance today."

Neil was left frustrated that his side didn't make more of their chances but says it is a key positive that they have produced consecutive clean sheets, having struggled defensively for much of the campaign.

"The last five minutes of the first half I thought they had a bit of threat, but up until that point we were dominant, had four or five really good opportunities to score.

"We started the second half brightly, and then for around 20 minutes it became a bit scrappy.

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"We made some really aggressive subs at that point and it became a bit more open. We again have two or three really good opportunities to score, and they had one.

"We created more chances today than we have in the last two or three matches, which is frustrating.

"We've given ourselves a platform now by looking solid defensively and keeping clean sheets, and I though the first-half performance in particular was as well as we played since I've got here.

"We weren't as clinical as we have been, and the goalkeeper has had a good game.

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"If you'd offered me as much play as we had in terms of getting into the final third, I'd have taken it because I'd have thought we'd score at least two goals.

"The frustrating part is not scoring, but I'm a big believer that if the performances are right, the results will follow.

"We haven't been defensively stable this season but the last couple of games we have.

"The balance of our play at the moment is good, we just haven't got what we deserve."

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