'Overall...': Trai Hume delivers Sunderland dressing room verdict on Brighton draw

Trai Hume said Sunderland were disappointed not to take all three points from Brighton but said it was a fair result and marked the end of a positive week for the Black Cats.

Sunderland played well through the first hour of the game at the Amex Stadium, but weren't able to take their chances and were pushed back by the hosts towards the end.

Hume said there was some frustration in the dressing room after but conceded that it was a fair result on balance of play.

"Yes, overall it's probably been a good week," Hume said.

"The focus in the derby was to win and we've done that. I'm a bit disappointed that maybe we didn't take anything from the game today but I think a draw is probably a fair result. I think we came into it, we knew that they had a few players missing but obviously so did Brighton. I thought we controlled the first half the way we wanted to and created a few chances.

"The second half was a bit chaotic and they probably had the better chances overall in the second half, even though we created a few. Like I said, I think a draw is probably a fair result."

The draw at Brighton marked a new phase of the season for Sunderland, who have seen a number of senior players depart to represent their country at the Africa Cup of Nations. That brought Hume back into the XI at left back, and the Northern Ireland international said Sunderland's performance was testament to the mentality of the squad.

"As I've always said, I'll play wherever I'm asked to play," Hume said.

"No matter if that's right-back or left-back or right midfield or wherever it is. I'll obviously do my job wherever I'm asked to play. Obviously, I was disappointed that I didn't get a start in the Newcastle game, but that comes with football. You don't want to be too high and you don't want to be too low. I just wanted to stay ready for whenever I had to come on or if I needed to. With AFCON obviously we're missing a few players, but it opens up opportunities for other players at the end of the day.

"As a team, we pride ourselves on working hard and trying to win every game we go into. Even if there are players missing, we have a full-strength team. No matter who's on, there's an opportunity for people to impress.

"We pride ourselves on trying to win games, no matter who's on the pitch," he added.

"That's the standards we've set throughout this season and even last year. you've always got to be ready. There are some players in there who probably haven't played as much as they want to this season, but they've trained outstandingly. They've kept themselves at a high standard and I know they'll be ready to play whenever asked upon. Like I said, that's the standards we keep ourselves to.

"We train at 100% every week. Whoever's going to start the game or whoever's going to come on, we know they're going to be ready."

Hume came close to getting on the scoresheet early in the second half at the Amex, but admitted his shot from range was 'terrible'.

"I just thought it was a terrible shot to be honest," he said.

"Obviously, we built up well and the one-two with Enzo in the middle of the pitch.

"I probably could have slid Brian but at the time I thought he maybe ran offside so I thought a shot was probably the better option. Like I said, it was just a terrible shot."

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Trai Hume proud of Wear-Tyne derby win

Despite his disappointment at not making the starting XI against Newcastle United, Hume said it was satisfying to win having been part of the side who lost 3-0 at the Stadium of Light in the FA Cup back in January 2023.

"Yes, obviously we were disappointed at how the FA Cup game went a couple of years ago," Hume said.

"I think we knew that we weren't in a great spot at the time and we knew our performance wasn't good enough. It did sit with us for a while and probably carried on the rest of the season that way. We weren't in a good place. I was obviously disappointed not to start the game, but like I said, I don't want to be too high, I don't want to be too low.

"You've got to keep yourself at a high standard. I just wanted to be ready for whenever I was asked upon. It was nice to be able to do that."