Di Canio: We gifted 'rubbish' goals

Paolo Di Canio admits Sunderland's defending was 'very poor'
1 September 2013

Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio revealed he could not get angry with his team following their 3-1 defeat at Crystal Palace because they were simply too poor.

The Black Cats have taken just one point from their opening three Barclays Premier League games and only briefly looked capable of leaving Selhurst Park with a positive result.

Danny Gabbidon's deflection gave Palace an early lead before Steven Fletcher came off the bench to equalise on his first appearance for five months.

But the hosts hit back through a Dwight Gayle penalty, with Sunderland skipper John O'Shea sent off for bringing down Jason Puncheon, and a superb injury-time goal from Stuart O'Keefe.

Di Canio said after the game that his team had gifted Palace the opening two goals, yet he had refused to blow his top at this players.

"Today it was difficult to be angry," he said. "Normally I can tell you I'm very angry, but today it was difficult - it was too poor that it was really difficult to say something.

"I don't think that even the most arrogant player in the world could argue if you said the first two goals were absolute rubbish.

"My leader [O'Shea] was already in the dressing room and said sorry to everybody - how can you be angry?

"They are intelligent and understand when they do something bad. I couldn't be angry but obviously I was really sad."

The Italian felt his side were in the game after Fletcher had headed the visitors level just after the hour, and reasoned the penalty and resulting red card turned the game in Palace's favour.

"We were on top after we drew level," Di Canio added.

"The second goal was very poor. It came from nothing. My leader let the ball get away behind him and then tried to tackle the opponent and it cost us - the goal and the red card.

"They took advantage from our mistake and they put everything on the field. They never gave up but to be honest their goals were very poor."

Palace manager Ian Holloway said he was pleased rather than relieved the Eagles had picked up their first league points of the season.

There had been suggestions he was close to losing his job after defeats against Tottenham and Stoke but he was delighted to see his side pick up what could prove to be a vital win.

"That is not the word I would like to use," he said when asked if he was relieved to break Palace's points duck.

"All you can do is work on your performances. They scored and we didn't wobble - we had a little spell when they put Fletcher on but that was a commanding performance. I was so pleased, it is not relieved.

"I was very, very pleased with the determination, the work rate and the performance, some of that passing was nice to watch."

Holloway has been open in his quest to add more players to his squad before the transfer window shuts on Monday evening and he confirmed at least two are now set to move to Selhurst Park: Huddersfield's Jack Hunt and Reading's Jimmy Kebe.

He said: "We've got Jack Hunt and Jimmy Kebe [coming in] - we are trying to sign another four, maybe even five, but I can't tell you an update on it."

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