Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill praises youngsters, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/James-McClean-c17703 and Connor Wickham
Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill praised the squad’s youngsters for helping him secure a victory in his first match in charge of the Black Cats. The secured a narrow, late 2-1 win over Blackburn http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rovers-c40385 at the Stadium of Light over the weekend, giving O’Neill
a winning start to his reign as manager of the club.
David Vaughan and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sebastian-Larsson-c32733 struck late in the game to award their side the much needed win, in a match they were trailing 1-0. While James McClean did not score a goal, the manager hailed the youngsters impact on the game.
It was only after he was brought on that Sunderland seemed to have a new life and it was as if the 22-year-old inspired the match winning goals. Along with McClean, Connor Wickham was also brought on towards the end of the game, having just returned from
a knee injury.
O’Neill said while speaking to reporters:
“Just at the moment when probably we all need a lift, on comes James McClean and his first move was probably the first time the crowd have seen him, and he was so positive.”
According to the new Black Cats manager McClean had been brilliant against Manchester United for the reserves, which was why he had decided to award him a substitution appearance for the senior team in the English Premier League.
He continued:
“Connor Wickham, for instance, has done two days' training in the five weeks since he was injured.
The training in the lead-up to the game wouldn't have been that strenuous, so he has done two days and he was great for us considering.”
The former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Northern-Ireland-c2972 international revealed that both the youngsters, including Wickham, had been impressive in training. It was because of that, Martin O’Neill had decided to bring on the 18-year-old to help raise the spirits of the Black Cats.
O’Neill said about Vaughan’s goal:
“It was a great goal by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-c10409, a really great goal, and the place just lifted in the sense that confidence just came right back into the team, and to get the late goal was a dream.”
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