Patrick Roberts says Sunderland's Plan B worked a treat at Reading as they scored three times despite playing for more than half the match without a recognised striker. The Black Cats were already without injured top scorer Ross Stewart for the trip to the Madejski Stadium, and when Ellis Simms - their only other senior frontman - limped off with a toe problem shortly before half-time, boss Tony Mowbray was forced into a rethink.
But with Alex Pritchard playing as a false nine, and with Roberts and Elliot Embleton providing support, Sunderland went on to win convincingly. Roberts scored twice in the first half, with Embleton providing both assists, before Jack Clarke finished a brilliant team goal 20 minutes from time.
"It's exactly what we planned to kind of do," said Roberts. "We knew we'd be light with players and, with Ross getting injured and then Ellis coming off, we had to do something different.
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"We have worked on that, the manager has done that before at other clubs and that's kind of what he likes, attacking footballers and with a lot of talented players together on the pitch you can always create something and I think we did that. To score two goals is great and then Jack's finish made it a good evening."
Sunderland's change of system was made out of necessity, but Roberts revealed that it was a situation they had planned for. He said: "It's more on the training pitch, we've kind of worked on it and like I said he [Mowbray] has done it before so he's put that in our brains so we know if we don't have a striker what to do.
"I thought Pritch [Pritchard] did really well up there tonight, he's only small but he’s a terrier, he gets on the ball. Embo [Embleton] coming on as well is another technician.
"I enjoy playing out there [on the right], it's my favoured position and I've done that many times in my career and hopefully I can do it more this season. We've all got to chip in [with goals].
"I don't know how bad Ellis' injury is but I'm sure it's not as bad as Ross' but we have other ways to play football. We have to implement that in the games and that's what we did on Wednesday so I'm very proud of the team and I'm sure the fans are as well.
"I thought to a man we were brilliant, even the players coming on. Obviously Embo came on and played a few balls for me and Jewison [Bennette] coming on, I thought he was sharp.
"It's obviously good for a young player coming on in a situation when you are 3-0 up. Jay Matete I thought was brilliant and the rest of the lads were first class, Aji Alese as well on his first start for the club I thought he was excellent."
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