Sunderland supporters have heard this story so often – at this point in the Regis Le Bris era – that fans of the Championship challengers could almost recite it word for word.
A strong start, a host of chances squandered, and a drop-off in the second-half amid criticisms over their head coach’s game management.
The frustrations the Sunderland faithful felt during those draws with Queens Park Rangers, Millwall, Coventry and co could be copied and pasted onto Tuesday night’s post-match discussion, Bristol City leaving the Stadium of Light with a hard-earned point to their name on a night in which Sunderland sensation Tommy Watson picked up a worrying injury.
At least, unlike against Millwall and Coventry, it was the Wearsiders who fought back late on this time.
But while late equalisers are often described as feeling like winners, that was not really the case as Patrick Roberts fired home much to Le Bris’ relief with 93 minutes on the clock.
Instead, the Sunderland fans headed for the exits with a gnawing sense of frustration. Of yet another opportunity missed, even if the gap between themselves and table-topping Leeds United is still only four points.
It is a frustration Regis Le Bris shares.
Regis Le Bris frustrated as Sunderland repeat old failings against Bristol City
“I think we started well. I think we dominated the first-half with good rhythm and a good tempo,” Le Bris tells the media at full-time. “We had chances to score but we didn’t – again – so its like repetition.”
What was it Albert Einstein allegedly said about the ‘definition of insanity’?
Sunderland – during a run of six draws in eight Championship games – feel like a team doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
For Le Bris, however, the route out of their slump is not via tearing up the blueprint and starting again from the ground up, but by perfecting Plan A.
Sunderland dominated 66 per cent of the possession and mustered 21 shots against Liam Manning’s well-organised Bristol City outfit. And the former FC Lorient boss wants greater ruthlessness and ‘ambition’, particularly when facing a team who are happy to sit deep and soak up the pressure.
Le Bris explains how Black Cats can improve
“It is not easy to face a low block,” Le Bris explains. “We know that we have a lot of work to do to improve this part of the game. We have to be more clinical because, if you don’t score, the opponent can stay in their foundations.
“They just have to counter-attack and know that two or three corner-kicks or free-kicks should be their main opportunity. That was the case [against Bristol City].
“If we are dominant like that, it is good for the team because we have qualities individually and collectively. Now, we have to add 5 or 10 per cent more in the final third.
“The character was good because of the late equaliser. But, at the end, if we want to have a better ambition, we have to add maybe 5 or 10 per cent more.
“It is a question now of real ambition. You have to have the desire to break a defence, to give something more creative, more intense, to give the right impetus into the game.
“And, probably, we have to add this part of the character to our team.”