Post by Les on Apr 24, 2019 9:49:13 GMT
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/max-power-says-sunderland-deserve-16166449
Max Power says Sunderland will deserve their fate after 'unacceptable' slip-up at Peterborough
The Black Cats can have no complaints about where they finish according to Max Power, who was unhappy at surrendering two points on Monday
“Unacceptable.”
Max Power was not mincing his words when he talked about how Sunderland failed to win a game he gave them an 87th-minute lead in.
The midfielder’s fourth Black Cats goal ought to have been the only strike of the game at Peterborough United but Matt Godden’s equaliser five minutes later has left them relying on favours to secure automatic promotion.
And if Sunderland fail to get the top-two finish many were expecting this season, Power insists it will be because they do not deserve it.
“There’s no point dressing it up, it’s unacceptable, especially at this stage of the season,” he said after the 1-1 draw.
“To score that late on in a performance where it’s red-hot on the pitch, you’ve put so much into it, it’s tough to take, really tough to take.
“It’s happened one too many times this season.
“With three games left all we can do now is take maximum points and see where it takes us.
“We all feel as if we owe Portsmouth one (Kenny Jackett’s side beat them in the league and came out on top in a Football League Trophy final penalty shoot-out) but at this stage of the season we can’t get too down about it. We’ve just got to recover now and win three games, simple as that.”
Sunderland are two points behind Portsmouth, who they play at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, before finishing their campaign with matches at Fleetwood Town and Southend United. Second-placed Barnsley are four points ahead of Sunderland and Pompey, but have only two matches to secure their place in the Championship without having to risk the play-offs.
Power insists there is no room for hard-luck stories at the end of a 46-match season.
“I’ll never look for excuses, I’ll never sugar-coat anything,” he said. “If we don’t go up automatically, we haven’t been good enough to, that’s the black and white.
“The club’s come a long way for where it’s been the last few years. It’s certainly a rebuilding process but I’ve never shied away from the fact I’m here to get promoted. Hopefully we achieve that and it’s automatic but if not we’ll have to address the play-offs.”
Sunderland have drawn 18 league matches this season. Only Stoke City have drawn more in the English leagues. The Black Cats have led in seven.
Even winning half would have them top of the table at this stage.
“I’ll never be critical of my team-mates,” Power said when asked about Godden’s equaliser. “We defend as a team but at that stage of the game you have to see it out. It’s happened a few too many times and we’re all hurting from it.
“I think we had enough chances to win the game and I can’t really remember Jon (McLaughlin) making too many saves. We got in some great positions in the first half and the (Peterborough) keeper made a great save from Jimmy Dunne at the back post.
“When you go in front that late on you expect to see it out and we haven’t.
“If we don’t go up is Peterborough the one that’s cost us? Not for me, it’s happened too many times. We should be out of sight, we’re not.
“We’ve got three games left, one of them’s against Portsmouth so we can go back above them then it’s unfortunately us depending on Barnsley slipping up.
“We’re good enough to get out of the division, I really do think that, but the fact of the matter is we’ve drawn too many games and it could cost us, there’s no hiding away from that fact.
“Let’s just go and win three games and see where it takes us.
“If that’s not automatic we’ve got to swallow that and go the play-off route. If we get there, we’ll deserve to get there.”
Max Power says Sunderland will deserve their fate after 'unacceptable' slip-up at Peterborough
The Black Cats can have no complaints about where they finish according to Max Power, who was unhappy at surrendering two points on Monday
“Unacceptable.”
Max Power was not mincing his words when he talked about how Sunderland failed to win a game he gave them an 87th-minute lead in.
The midfielder’s fourth Black Cats goal ought to have been the only strike of the game at Peterborough United but Matt Godden’s equaliser five minutes later has left them relying on favours to secure automatic promotion.
And if Sunderland fail to get the top-two finish many were expecting this season, Power insists it will be because they do not deserve it.
“There’s no point dressing it up, it’s unacceptable, especially at this stage of the season,” he said after the 1-1 draw.
“To score that late on in a performance where it’s red-hot on the pitch, you’ve put so much into it, it’s tough to take, really tough to take.
“It’s happened one too many times this season.
“With three games left all we can do now is take maximum points and see where it takes us.
“We all feel as if we owe Portsmouth one (Kenny Jackett’s side beat them in the league and came out on top in a Football League Trophy final penalty shoot-out) but at this stage of the season we can’t get too down about it. We’ve just got to recover now and win three games, simple as that.”
Sunderland are two points behind Portsmouth, who they play at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, before finishing their campaign with matches at Fleetwood Town and Southend United. Second-placed Barnsley are four points ahead of Sunderland and Pompey, but have only two matches to secure their place in the Championship without having to risk the play-offs.
Power insists there is no room for hard-luck stories at the end of a 46-match season.
“I’ll never look for excuses, I’ll never sugar-coat anything,” he said. “If we don’t go up automatically, we haven’t been good enough to, that’s the black and white.
“The club’s come a long way for where it’s been the last few years. It’s certainly a rebuilding process but I’ve never shied away from the fact I’m here to get promoted. Hopefully we achieve that and it’s automatic but if not we’ll have to address the play-offs.”
Sunderland have drawn 18 league matches this season. Only Stoke City have drawn more in the English leagues. The Black Cats have led in seven.
Even winning half would have them top of the table at this stage.
“I’ll never be critical of my team-mates,” Power said when asked about Godden’s equaliser. “We defend as a team but at that stage of the game you have to see it out. It’s happened a few too many times and we’re all hurting from it.
“I think we had enough chances to win the game and I can’t really remember Jon (McLaughlin) making too many saves. We got in some great positions in the first half and the (Peterborough) keeper made a great save from Jimmy Dunne at the back post.
“When you go in front that late on you expect to see it out and we haven’t.
“If we don’t go up is Peterborough the one that’s cost us? Not for me, it’s happened too many times. We should be out of sight, we’re not.
“We’ve got three games left, one of them’s against Portsmouth so we can go back above them then it’s unfortunately us depending on Barnsley slipping up.
“We’re good enough to get out of the division, I really do think that, but the fact of the matter is we’ve drawn too many games and it could cost us, there’s no hiding away from that fact.
“Let’s just go and win three games and see where it takes us.
“If that’s not automatic we’ve got to swallow that and go the play-off route. If we get there, we’ll deserve to get there.”
