Sunderland fell to a costly defeat in more than ways than one against Fulham on Sunday
Régis Le Bris fears he could be facing five new injuries after a costly afternoon at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland had already seen Dennis Cirkin ruled out of the game with Fulham due to what Le Bris said is a minor issue, having lost Reinildo for a month to a knee issue. The Black Cats then saw Nordi Mukiele and Jocelin Ta Bi limp out of the first half, with Mukiele initially trying to run off the issue.
Le Bris does not yet know the severity of the issues but added that he is also concerned over injuries to Brian Brobbey and Romaine Mundle. Brobbey went down shortly before he was substituted, while Mundle left the pitch with the physio at full time.
“It's a bit early to say, so we had Nordi, Jocelin, Brian, maybe Romaine as well, so it was a tough day,” Le Bris said.
“Dennis also missed the game with an injury so at the minute it's a tough period, but it is what it is, we have to accept it and move forward.”
Le Bris said clinical finishing diffference proved the difference between the two teams in Sunderland’s 3-1 defeat, with Romaine Mundle missing a huge chance shortly before Fulham twice conceded from set play situations. Le Bris was also left to rue what he felt was a sloppy and underwhelming first half display from his team.
“A tough day because it's a defeat at home, key moments defined this game,” Le Bris said.
“We had the opportunity during the second half to score and just after, they scored twice on set pieces. Probably our first half wasn't controlled enough, we struggled to find the right rhythm. We got two injuries, which didn't help. But we were probably a bit sloppy, lacked quality with the ball and we didn't control this part of the game properly. I think the reaction at the beginning of the second half was good, but it was a reaction.
“And after that, just key moments, like in the Premier League. We had a strong opponent, they had the quality to score when it's on. We felt the quality in the first half but didn't express it really. So the intention, the lads were positive about their intentions, but we struggled to find the right way to express it.
“Key moments [define the game], it's really clear. He was disappointed, like the squad I think and us in general. It is what it is, we have to accept it and move forward.”
Why a penalty was given in Sunderland v Fulham
Brian Brobbey was deemed to have committed a holding offence on Calvin Bassey for the penalty award that proved so crucial in Sunderland’s defeat to Fulham on Sunday afternoon.
Referee Craig Pawson initially waved played on after a free kick was swung into the Sunderland box from the right-hand side, but the Fulham players immediately appealed for a foul. Pawson was then advised to review in the incident on the pitchside monitor, and determined that Brobbey had fouled Bassey as the ball was delivered into the box.
Brobbey was shown a yellow card and Raul Jimenez scored from the spot, his second of the game coming just minutes after his opener. The Premier League match centre released the following statement on the incident, saying that Brobbey had held Bassey.
The statement said: “After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of no penalty to Fulham.
“Referee announcement: “After review, Sunderland 9 commits a holding offence on his opponent. Final decision is a penalty kick to Fulham and a yellow card to Sunderland 9.”
Though Enzo Le Fee scored from the spot shortly afterwards when Ballard was hauled down in the box to give Sunderland some hope, Alex Iwobi added a third for Fulham on the break.
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