REGIS LE BRIS admits his Sunderland players shot themselves in the foot as they crashed to a 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season.
Luke O’Nien’s first-half error set up Ipswich’s opener, with the centre-half conceding possession to Julio Enciso before Emersonn slotted home.
O’Nien had a rough afternoon all round, picking up a booking for hauling down Enciso after another mistake threatened to play Sunderland into trouble, but his replacement, Omar Alderete, fared no better.
Alderete’s misplaced 90th-minute pass was intercepted by Sasa Lukic, who played in Jack Clarke for the side-footed strike that earned Ipswich all three points.
“We’re disappointed, first of all, because for the opening day, we wanted a good result,” said Le Bris. “I think, overall, the performance was not so bad, we were in a situation with the ball dominating possession and trying to create chances.
“On our mistakes, we conceded two transitions, two goals. It’s a shame because it’s always difficult to break a well-organised block. We were not clinical enough to create chances and score goals, and they made the most of their opportunities.”
Those opportunities came from Sunderland errors, with Le Bris especially frustrated that the mistakes came in moments when his players were not really under a great deal of pressure.
Neither O’Nien nor Alderete seemed in danger when they gave the ball away, but their mistakes were ruthlessly punished.
“I think we were in control when we made those mistakes,” said Le Bris. “It’s a bit different if you are overwhelmed by the pressure and okay it’s not easy, but it wasn’t the case for those two mistakes.
“We will learn from the experience and, once again, I repeat it’s not easy to break down an opponent who is well-organised with this game plan, or to try to regain possession and exploit the spaces in front of you.
“It was the problem of the afternoon, and we didn’t solve it. The beginning of the second half was open for both teams, and it’s not easy to create composure and be calm with the ball so early in the season.
“It’s a challenge and, last season, at times we struggled when we had the ball, so we still have room for improvement. Today, it was relentless, and the experience is not easy to accept, but it is what it is.”