Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray has said that it is ‘frustrating’ that both Luke O’Nien and Dan Ballard picked up yellow cards in the draw at Swansea, which means both will miss their next game.
The Black Cats drew 0-0 away at Swansea City on Saturday afternoon, and had a one-man advantage for an hour of the game, after Swansea midfielder Charlie Patino received two yellow cards within the first half an hour.
Despite this, Mowbray’s side had 25 shots, and yet failed to put one away to secure all three points.
Ballard and O’Nien both picked up yellow cards in the second half, meaning Sunderland will be without both starting centre backs when they host Birmingham City this Saturday afternoon.
Mowbray on double suspension
Speaking to the Newcastle Chronicle after the game, Mowbray expressed his disappointment at the bookings and subsequent suspensions.
“My frustration was not with them, really, it was managing the game at the top end of the pitch.
“At the back, there wasn’t really a threat so why were we making last-ditch tackles to get ourselves booked? Just manage the game better!
“It was frustrating that both of them got themselves into situations where they made bookable tackles, and now we’ll have to face Birmingham without both of our central defenders and it will be an opportunity for somebody else to come in and see if they can do the job.”
Mowbray to look to inexperienced backups
This is a huge blow for Mowbray.
Due to this, it is likely we will see summer signings Jenson Seelt and Nectarios Triantis both start
Both players are hugely inexperienced in England after their moves from Holland and Australia respectively.
Seelt has only made two substitute appearances in the Championship this season playing a combined 65 minutes, whilst Triantis is yet to feature in the league.
Luckily Birmingham are currently one of the worst sides under Wayne Rooney, who is winless so far in charge of the Blues.