Regis Le Bris has been speaking to the press ahead of Sunderland’s clash with Hull City on Saturday lunchtime, but has had one final word on the performance against Leeds this week.
Sunderland were defeated by league leaders Leeds United last time out, and are looking to bounce back immediately with a win against struggling Hull this weekend.
That game against Leeds saw the Black Cats winning at half time, before coming out and getting dominated by Daniel Farke’s side in the second half.
Le Bris was blamed for the loss due to the way he set up the team and the substitutions he made, but now, the Sunderland manager has backed himself and the changes he used in the game.
Regis Le Bris made the changes he felt necessary against Leeds
Looking back on the 2-1 loss to Leeds, Regis Le Bris was asked at his latest press conference (via the Sunderland YouTube channel) whether he got his tactics and his substitutions wrong on Monday night.
He replied: “After the analysis it was our feeling that it wasn’t a defensive issue, it was more about finding a way to escape their pressure. You can wait until the last minute but you can also find a solution.
“It wasn’t a defensive problem, we were really good, the back four was good, the shape was impressive. It was more how we can break their dynamic and find a solution to build under pressure, and Leeds were impressive so sometimes you just have to admit they were very good.”
Some fans had wanted to see the likes of Chris Mepham or Leo Hjelde introduced to shore up the defence, while others questioned why Salis Abdul Samed was brought on as an attacking midfielder.
- READ MORE: Sunderland given referee for Hull City clash who recently ‘cost the game’ for Championship side
Sunderland collapse vs Leeds was more than just personnel issue
Arguably, what we saw on Monday night was more about the strength and resilience of a more experienced Leeds United side prevailing over a very young Sunderland squad, with players very rarely, if ever, facing a team as tough as the Whites.
It’s another learning curve for these Sunderland players, and it will surely serve them well in the future, as disappointing as it may be to lose in the here and now.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  LeedsLeeds | 33 | 21 | 9 | 3 | 68 | 20 | 48 | 72 |
| 2 |  Sheff UtdSheffield Utd | 33 | 22 | 6 | 5 | 47 | 23 | 24 | 70 |
| 3 |  BurnleyBurnley | 33 | 17 | 14 | 2 | 39 | 9 | 30 | 65 |
| 4 |  SunderlandSunderland | 33 | 17 | 11 | 5 | 50 | 30 | 20 | 62 |
| 5 |  BlackburnBlackburn | 33 | 15 | 6 | 12 | 39 | 31 | 8 | 51 |
| 6 |  West BromWest Brom | 33 | 11 | 15 | 7 | 42 | 31 | 11 | 48 |
No one expected Sunderland to beat Leeds anyway, and the fact they were leading at half time is a real testament to the quality the Black Cats possess now.
Daniel Farke was impressed by Sunderland, even though he felt Leeds deserved the win overall — and truth be told, he’s right in that respect.
But, Sunderland made a lot of mistakes on Monday, namely giving the ball away far too easily and committing silly fouls in dangerous areas. They have to be more professional and calm in those situations from here on out, as it could be the difference between promotion and staying in the second tier.