Cats must put disappointment behind them, says Roberts

PATRICK Roberts says Sunderland must not be ‘disheartened’ by the big decisions that went against them in their defeat at Blackburn Rovers.

Roberts insists Sunderland must now put Tuesday’s decisions out of their minds as they prepare for another tough test this weekend when Burnley visit the Stadium of Light.

“It was difficult at times, especially where I was,” said Roberts of the Blackburn defeat. “I thought they had a game plan and the game plan was executed by themselves. We can be disheartened by the penalty and it was maybe offside for the second one but that’s football and that’s what we’ve seen this season.

“That is how things go, you can’t get too down about it and we go again. They are clear decisions which didn’t go our way but we can’t be too disheartened, it’s part and parcel of football and there was another 70-odd minutes to play [after the penalty incident].

“We turned up in the second half but we didn’t do enough or create enough to score so it was a disappointing night.”

Despite the result, Sunderland dominated possession at Ewood Park and put Blackburn on the backfoot for long spells but they were unable to create enough in front of goal. Roberts said: “At the weekend we came back and scored two goals. That was obviously the idea again but we have to start these games I think a bit better and when it goes 1-0, don’t let it become 2-0. I think we just have to be a bit better in areas and that will come and we’ll work on that again. But to come here and pass the ball how we did and control the game, was a positive.”