No one was more disappointed than Regis Le Bris as Sunderland threw away a lead for the second straight Championship game to draw at Millwall on Saturday afternoon.
But while it feels a little churlish to try to take the positives out of a game Sunderland really should have had wrapped up long before Femi Azeez scored a 93rd minute equaliser at The Den, it’s not all bad news for the Black Cats.
Sunderland are only one point off the top, after all, with a game in hand on new leaders Sheffield United.
Their unbeaten run, meanwhile, has been extended to a ninth game, even if the last four have ended in draws.
And while Aaron Connolly has come in for criticism at Sunderland, a first goal at the eighth attempt should do the former Hull City, Middlesbrough and Brighton and Hove Albion striker the world of good.
Picked to start up top in a re-jigged Sunderland frontline – Romain Mundle and Patrick Roberts were unavailable – Connolly opened the scoring in some style with just ten minutes on the clock.
Regis Le Bris delighted as Aaron Connolly opens Sunderland account
Loitering at the edge of the penalty area as Millwall attempted to clear a free-kick, the Republic of Ireland international fizzed a beautifully controlled volley past Lukas Jensen and into the bottom corner.
And Le Bris, rewarded for the faith he has shown in Connolly during a difficult couple of weeks, could not speak highly enough of his new recruit as his hard work finally paid of.
“Yeah, it shows that every player needs time even, if you have a good level, a good background,” Le Bris tells the media post-match. “The league is very competitive. you need time to improve and get to that level
“Aaron deserves [this] because he worked a lot. He worked for the team today again and it was a fantastic goal.”
Black Cats boss urges fightback ahead of West Brom challenge
Just like against Coventry City last time out – Sunderland led 2-0 through Wilson Isidor and Dennis Cirkin but still ended up without all three points – an unhappy fanbase expressed their concerns over a gameplan which appeared to revolve around sitting on a lead rather than attempting to extend it.
Attack, as they say, is often the best form of defence. And, as Sunderland were held for a fourth game in a row, perhaps that is a strategy Le Bris would be best served embracing.
The Wearsiders now host West Brom on Tuesday night, with Sheffield United to come on Saturday.
And Le Bris accepts that, ahead of a week which could go a long way to proving Sunderland’s promotion credentials, the former FC Lorient boss is keen to see his team bounce back and show that they do have the resilience required in this most unforgiving of divisions.
“We have to recover very quickly,” Le Bris adds. “And it shows in that sequence of games that we are consistent.
“Now, the difference between a draw and a win is important in terms of points. If we can win more, its better.”