Joe Nicholson reacts after Sunderland's 4-0 defeat against Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light

Transcript

00:00 Outside the stadium of light where Sunderland have been beaten 4-0 by Middlesbrough in the

00:06 Championship. Only one place to start really and that was the big moment right before half

00:11 time when Sunderland midfielder Dan Neal was sent off for a second yellow card for gesticulating

00:16 to the referee for descent and it was a moment which really turned the game after a pretty

00:22 even first half. Middlesbrough did well kind of holding on to the ball in the first half,

00:27 kept possession pretty well when they were trying to play out from the back but Sunderland

00:30 were just starting to build some momentum before half time with Patrick Roberts having

00:34 a low shot which was saved by Middlesbrough goalkeeper Senni Dieng, a really good save

00:39 from the Borough goalkeeper. At the other end Middlesbrough striker Josh Coburn had

00:43 an effort scrambled off the line by Dan Ballard from close range and as I say it was pretty

00:47 even before Neal was sent off and quite a controversial decision. Sunderland boss Tony

00:53 Mowbray has just been in for his post-match press conference and felt it was really harsh

00:57 on Neal, said that the referee spoilt the game and was critical of the referee's performance

01:02 and in the second half Sunderland just really struggled to cope with that man. Disadvantage,

01:08 Mowbray made a change at half time when he withdrew Mason Bursow and brought in Adil

01:13 Ashish but Sunderland went to a back three as well with Jenson Seal going into that back

01:18 three, along with Luka Nain and Dan Ballard sealed it down for the club. Niall Huggins

01:23 in the first half with two goals in quick succession from Middlesbrough towards the

01:27 start of the second half. The first coming from former Sunderland academy player Sam Greenwood

01:33 and the second coming from Matt Brooke, Sunderland were withstanding the pressure for a little

01:37 bit with Dan Ballard and making some good blocks and Anthony Pattson the goalkeeper

01:41 making some good saves but once those two goals went in it didn't really look like Sunderland

01:46 were going to get back into the game in the third with Isaiah Jones in the fourth through

01:51 substituting Marcus Voss towards the end. So really damaging defeat for Sunderland but

01:57 the game had really turned with that red card on the stroke of half time and the Blackhats

02:01 are now going to an international break and then return after that break later this month

02:05 when they travel to Stoke City.