Sunderland's Hat-trick hero Ross Stewart talks about the ideal way to end 2021 and the tasks still ahead...
ENDING ON A HIGH
"Perfect way to end 2021, really good performance topped off by some quality goals in front of a really big crowd."
PERFECT HAT-TRICK
"Yeah its funny cos I'd maybe went a few weeks without scoring and then scored one at Doncaster and then got three tonight. I'm always one for trying to get in the right areas and when you keep doing that you'll get chances and thankfully i was able to take a few of them tonight"
2ND CAREER HAT-TRICK
"This one is obviously way ahead of it [First hat trick]. Doing it for a club like Sunderland in front of a crowd like this. a few of the lads were saying its the perfect hat-trick. right foot, left foot header. A very pleasing night for my self but more importantly we got the three points and it takes us top of the league going into the new year"
PLENTY OF WORK STILL TO DO
"Definitely, were only half way through the season so we are aware that we've got to maintain these levels. were on a really good run in the league, I think that's nine unbeaten, so we've got to continue that."
WYCOMBE
"We get a wee break now with the Fleetwood game being off so we can use that to rest and recover to be ready for Wycombe the following Saturday"
FANTASTIC TEAM EFFORT
"From back to front the lads were excellent tonight, keeping a clean sheet and we always know we've got creativity in the middle of the pitch with the likes of Pritch, Embo and Leon. when you've got that behind you its just about trying to get in the right areas for myself and I was able to do that tonight. Some of the balls in, especially Bail's (Bailey Wright) for the third one was a great ball. Overall its a really good team performance and when we get it right like we did tonight, that's what we can do"
SETTING THE TONE?
"I think we're really starting to hit our stride. we had a couple of results earlier in the season, like the Sheffield Wednesday one, that we wanted to put right tonight and we've done that. it shows we are building as a squad and we're learning and at the same time I'm sure the fans are enjoying what they're seeing out there because the players are really enjoying what they're doing as well"
