Joe Nicholson and Phil Smith react after Sunderland's 2-0 defeat against Plymouth

Joe Nicholson and Phil Smith react after Sunderland's 2-0 defeat against Plymouth Argyle at Home Park

Transcript

00:00 Here at Home Park where Sunderland have been beaten 2-0 by Plymouth, Argyle, first half goals from Morgan Whittaker and Finn Azaz.

00:09 Phil, Sunderland created chances in that second half but ultimately the damage was done in the first 45 minutes wasn't it?

00:14 Yeah and actually the irony was that Sunderland started really well. I thought they looked excellent for the first 15-20 minutes.

00:19 It's almost quite boring to analyse because we feel like we've discussed it so much. A lot of the play was really good.

00:26 They've got some good areas. Clark, I thought Plymouth found it really hard to stop him. Roberts as well.

00:30 They just couldn't take their chances and it's not just actually missing the chances.

00:34 There's so many crosses in the box that flash across the six yard box and there's just nobody there.

00:40 I think it's a good team but one that just really doesn't seem to have that ruthless instinct.

00:45 Obviously Plymouth scored two fantastic goals and they did create chances throughout fair play to them.

00:49 But there's no way Sunderland should be leaving this ground having not scored a goal.

00:53 They shouldn't have kept a clean sheet today and it's just that ruthless edge that we keep talking about.

00:57 Tony Mowbray did make some attacking changes. Two came on at half time.

01:01 Mienda came on, Aushish came on in the second half, Bradley Datt came on.

01:06 But it just wasn't meant to be in the end was it?

01:09 No and again all those players that we mentioned I thought had an impact.

01:12 Aushish particularly, Mienda looked lively again. He was a handful.

01:15 But I don't think there was much wrong with the way Sunderland set up or the way they set up in the second half

01:20 because they were dominant in the game. But again Aushish, I think he's pushing for start though.

01:25 He was excellent again but missed two big chances.

01:27 Mienda had a glorious chance when Aushish played him through and just took a heavy touch.

01:31 It's those little details. A lot of these players look seriously talented and you think they've got a big future

01:35 but at the moment they're just lacking that clinical edge.

01:39 The debate continues doesn't it in terms of who should play up front and what the best way to do it is.

01:44 Thankfully there's a game on Wednesday isn't there when hopefully Sunderland can get back to winning ways pretty quickly

01:49 because that's a sore one to take after such a long journey.

01:51 Well perhaps some of those players could come in for the game on Wednesday, Sunderland at home to Huddersfield

01:56 and you can read more reaction from today's game over on the SAFC section of the Sunderland Echo website

02:01 where we'll have more build up to Wednesday's game back at the Stadium of Light against Huddersfield Town.