The Black Cats boss spoke after the 4-2 win over Gillingham in League One, in which Will Grigg opened his club account from the penalty spot.
Sunderland manager Jack Ross spoke out after the team’s solid 4-2 win over Gillingham in League One on Tuesday night and discussed the interaction between two of his players regarding penalty-taking duties.
The game at the Stadium of Light brought drama early on, with three goals in the opening 10 minutes and a Gills equaliser on 40 minutes leaving the game evenly poised at 2-2 at the break.
The Black Cats then extended the lead through Will Grigg, who grabbed his first for the club from the penalty spot, before Aiden McGeady, who had had prior success from 12 yards this term, then converted one of his own for the two-goal win.
McGeady would have been the more likely candidate to take the first penalty but Ross insisted after the game that he will not be telling his players who must or cannot take spot kicks, preferring them to sort it out among themselves given each individual’s mindset at the time.
“I’ve never delegated penalty-kick taking responsibilities,” the Sunderland boss told the Chronicle Live. “I do on set-pieces, but penalties have been one where players themselves decide on the park because how players are performing might affect whether they want to take it or not.”
Sunderland are third in the table and four points off the top two, but have a game in hand on both second-placed Barnsley and leaders Portsmouth.
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