Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Jeff. Thank you for your letter.
Sunday was just a bad, bad day all around. Possibly the worst day at the Stadium of Light since we were promoted back to the Premier League, I would say.
The atmosphere was flat, the performance was dismal, there was tension and anxiety in the air from the first whistle, and the sickening racist abuse of Romaine Mundle capped off a wretched Sunday for everyone connected with the club.
I don’t know what the solution to the issue of the fluctuating atmosphere at home could be, but what I’d say is that the players do look a little bit short of confidence at the moment. Hopefully one or two positive results on the road can help to address that before we return to Wearside to play Brighton in mid-March.