Chris Coleman on what Sunderland can’t afford to do after losing start

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Sunderland lost their first game under new manager Chris Coleman at Aston Villa on Tuesday.

Chris Coleman has warned his Sunderland players that “they can’t feel sorry for themselves” after suffering another defeat in his opening game as manager at Aston Villa on Tuesday, according to The Shields Gazette.

The former Wales boss got off to a losing start with the Black Cats as goals from Albert Adomah and Josh Onomah earned Villa victory before Lewis Grabban’s consolation for Sunderland.

Relegated from the Premier League last season and now bottom of the Championship having failed to win since August, the Sunderland squad are understandaly low but Coleman won’t stand for self-pity.

“They can’t feel sorry for themselves, never do that,” he is quoted by the Shields Gazette as saying.

“In these moments this is where team spirit comes from, it’s where you start to build it. That is what we have to do. We are definitely in a fight, there is only us who can fight it.

“I don’t want anybody to feel sorry for me or the players. It is us that will get out of this. You keep going, keep preparing as hard as you can and you have to turn your luck around. We will do that.”

Coleman was only appointed as Simon Grayon’s successor on Sunday so would have had limited time to prepare his new players for a trip to one of the division’s promotion contenders.

The second-half comeback that Sunderland threatened shows signs of the spirit that Coleman will be demanding, but only results will bring belief back to the Black Cats, who are now 15 games without a win.

Second-from-bottom Burton Albion are their opponents on Saturday in a huge game at the Pirelli Stadium.