Alex Neil spoke about Sunderland's 2-2 draw with QPR, after witnessing the lads concede two goals in the last ten minutes...
FIRST HALF
"I thought, certainly in the first half, we were great. I thought we created a lot of good opportunities and deservedly took a two-goal lead."
SECOND HALF
"I think in the second half we came out, and arguably didn't show the bravery to move the ball. We turned the ball a little bit, didn't keep it alive as much as we should have probably done in the top end of the pitch for me. And they grew into the game, they didn't really change their shape much. They put Chair out left and Roberts at ten, and what he did was become a centre forward rather than playing in the 'ten' position, which means Corry can mark him (as a 'ten'). That just means they have more bodies in our back line than we had defenders."
CHANGED SHAPE
"So after that, it was one of them ones where I thought how long can I stick with it? Because what it means is that when they push the fullbacks on, we were two for two. And if we can damage them, we can potentially get the goal. I let it flow for a little bit, but I thought they looked more likely to score than us at that stage. So then I changed the shape, and I thought that stemmed the flow of the issue for me, for large parts of it. I thought we did cut up bits of play, with Patrick cutting on his left foot for a couple of chances. Arguably we could have got the third goal in that spell."
ATTACK V DEFENCE
"Obviously as the game dwells on they've got nothing to lose, they start putting bodies forward. We'd actually started to naturally sink back in. Unfortunately for us we concede two chances from two transitions. I think Dennis steps in and nicks the ball off Chair, the ball turns over and then Tyler Roberts takes them up the pitch and wins a free kick. But I think you've got to give the lad credit. He puts the ball in the top corner and then at that stage the shape had gone. Everybody is knackered, it's the 80th minute and you're hoping you can see it through and you know you know you're going to have to defend your box. They bring their goalie up which means they've got an extra number in the box which is unusual, and unfortunately for us it landed to him and they get the goal."
DISAPPOINTED FOR THE LADS
"I don't take any pleasure or solace in that (unbeaten run) at the moment. I think the biggest frustration for me is the two goals. If there's a structural problem or if we get overloaded, or done down the sides - whatever the case may be, I'll look at that and think 'I could have fixed that and should have fixed it'. But the goal is a set play, and the next one there isn't much you could do because you can't split people into two. there's a spare player in the box and you're just hoping your lads fill the dividing areas and get the key header that matters. Unfortunately on this occasion we didn't. I'm more frustrated than the lads are, and I'm disappointed for them because I thought for for large spells of the game, particularly the first half, we were excellent.You're talking about a team that are expecting to be in the top ten this year, and I thought the lads, having lost Dan Ballard as well, did really well."
FREAK GOALS
"I think it was less structural today. The last one (at Bristol), although they get round, they play offside so that's a bad decision. So that's more related to structure that today. It's dead balls. And we do jump and try and get across, Patto does try and get a hand to it, but it's a well-struck free kick so sometimes you've got to hold your hands up and give them credit. But it doesn't feel nice just now because we deserved to win the game. I think everybody who watched it will think that. But we got a point which is okay, but not what we wanted."
DANIEL BALLARD UPDATE
"It's not good. He's travelling to the hotel now but it doesn't look good at the minute."
