Régis Le Bris, the manager of Sunderland, expressed his belief that the 0-0 draw with Brighton was a fair outcome as his team withstood a late surge of pressure to secure a valuable point. Despite missing several key players due to the Africa Cup of Nations, Sunderland put on a commendable performance throughout the game. However, they were unable to capitalize on their chances in the second half, allowing Brighton to finish strongly.
Le Bris commended his team’s resilience in defending their box during the latter stages of the match, resulting in a clean sheet and a hard-earned point. Reflecting on the game, Le Bris stated, “A draw was probably a fair result. The atmosphere in the dressing room was a bit disappointed [that we didn’t win], which was a good sign for the future.”
Sunderland showcased dominance in the first 65-70 minutes of the match, displaying character, control, and creating scoring opportunities. Despite their solid performance, the inability to convert chances meant Brighton pushed for a late winner. Le Bris praised his team’s defensive efforts and determination to secure the draw.
Habib Diarra, who returned from a groin injury during the game, is set to join Senegal for the Africa Cup of Nations. Le Bris emphasized the importance of managing Diarra’s workload carefully to ensure his readiness to compete upon his return to Sunderland.
Furthermore, the Premier League confirmed that a red-card check on Dan Ballard’s challenge on Charalampos Kostoulas resulted in the initial decision of a yellow card being upheld. The match centre clarified that the contact in the challenge was deemed to be glancing, affirming the referee’s call on the field.
