Robbie Stockdale’s reaction to Sunderland’s Checkatrade Trophy exit makes bad reading for Jack Rodwell

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Sunderland are out of the Checkatrade Trophy, after being beaten by Doncaster Rovers last night.

Sunderland under-21 boss Robbie Stockdale’s comments to the Chronicle following his side’s exit from the Checkatrade Trophy do not make good reading for Jack Rodwell in particular.

Sunderland were beaten 1-0 by Doncaster Rovers last night, after putting in a dire performance at the Keepmoat Stadium.

The Black Cats named Rodwell as their most senior player in the squad, and he was expected to carry some of his youngster teammates through the contest.

However, Rodwell was actually at fault for the goal which Sunderland conceded against the League One side.

And Stockdale admits that the senior players in Sunderland’s side did not take on the responsibility, like they were expected to.

He said: “Our decision-making was poor, especially in the first half, and when we did make the right decisions, the execution wasn’t good enough.

“There were too many players who played like that.

“The young players who rose to the challenge at Scunthorpe didn’t do so tonight. The seniors didn’t drag them along, either.”

Sunderland also named first-teamers Mika, Brendan Galloway and Donald Love in their starting line-up – but the trio all have the excuse of being inexperienced themselves.

It was Rodwell who was by far the most veteran member of the line-up, but his dismal form in a Sunderland shirt continued.

There is now no way that Sunderland’s under-21 side can make it out of their Checkatrade Trophy group, with their next match in the competition coming against Grimsby Town.