Alex Neil admits it felt like 'back to the drawing board' for him after Sunderland laboured to victory against Fleetwood Town. The Black Cats trailed at the break after an abysmal first half, with Neil making a double substitution and changing shape for the second half - a move he admitted he considered making before half-time.
It was a gamble he acknowledged could have backfired, but instead goals from Elliot Embleton, sub Luke O'Nien, and Jack Clarke turned the game around against a Fleetwood side that played the final few minutes with ten men after Zak Jules was sent off for a second bookable offence. The win lifted Sunderland back into the play-off places and up to fifth in the table, but while Neil was pleased his team found a way to win, he says he took little satisfaction given the performance.
"It feels like back to drawing board for me after that," said Neil. "I don't want to put a dampener on a win, but I'm not taking massive satisfaction from that at all to be honest.
