“Leeds won because of those two players. We played well in the first half and deserved to lead 1-0 at halftime, but in the second half, they gained strong momentum, and it was very difficult to disrupt their flow,” said the Sunderland coach, highlighting the “excellent” Leeds United players who were key in their stunning 2-1 comeback win, overpowering Sunderland’s defense.
Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris acknowledged Leeds United’s fast start ahead of their Championship clash at Elland Road on Monday.
Heading into the match, Leeds had scored the most goals in the league within the first 30 minutes, with 21 to their name.
However, Sunderland went into halftime with a narrow lead, thanks to another superb solo goal from Wilson Isidor, further adding to his impressive tally for the Black Cats. Leeds, chasing the title, needed to dig deep in the second half and show a different side to their game.
Known for their explosive starts, this time Leeds hit their stride late, completing a dramatic turnaround to win 2-1.
Pascal Struijk equalized in the 78th minute and then, in stoppage time, became the unlikely hero by scoring the winner, lifting Leeds back to the top of the table.
Sunderland Boss Talks Leeds’ Impactful Subs
Leeds’ strength in depth was evident as they made a significant impact from the bench. With the likes of Struijk, Joe Rothwell, Largie Ramazani, Mateo Joseph, and Sam Byram all available to come on, Sunderland could not relax, even with their 1-0 lead.
Notably, Rothwell’s introduction in the 71st minute was a turning point. His dynamic runs from deep helped drive Leeds forward, and his perfect cross assisted Struijk’s header, which left Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson with no chance.
“It’s disappointing to concede the second goal like we did at the end,” Le Bris said, reflecting on the loss. “We played a strong first half and deserved to be ahead at halftime. But in the second half, Leeds built strong momentum, and it was tough to stop their rhythm.
Their substitutes were excellent, and they really controlled the game in the final moments.”
Le Bris Reflects on Defeat to Leeds
Leeds’ win was in part due to excellent game management by Daniel Farke, whose inspired substitutions of Ilia Gruev and Ao Tanaka for Struijk and Rothwell paid off.
Meanwhile, Le Bris’ own decisions will come under scrutiny, especially after removing Isidor late in the game, which left Sunderland struggling to hold onto their lead.
“We didn’t manage to slow the game down, and with the crowd behind them, Leeds found extra energy,” Le Bris admitted. “They deserved to win the second half.
It’s tough for the players, for us, and for our fans, but Leeds were strong in that second half.”
Despite the loss, Le Bris remained proud of Sunderland’s performance, especially in the first 60 minutes when they were closely matched with Leeds. “We showed we can compete at their level for long periods.
The key now is consistency. We need to find ways to manage games when we’re in control and learn from these experiences.”
