Sunderland Echo writer Phil Smith offers his verdict as the Black Cats suffer defeat at the hands of Bristol City
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00:00Hi there, Phil Smith here at Ashton Gate where Sunland have just lost 2-1 to Bristol City.
00:05Another defeat but a very, very different feel, I think, from after the Swansea game
00:09where we were quite critical of the intensity and the performance, especially in attack.
00:13I think today is just one of those days the game's turned on a really controversial decision in the seventh minute.
00:17Dre Hume sent it off for a professional foul. I thought it was unbelievably harsh, to be honest.
00:21I think when the contact amazed Hume actually has his arms up to avoid making a foul,
00:25I think the contact's minimal. It's a very, very controversial decision.
00:30I don't think it's a red card and obviously that makes it so difficult for Sunland.
00:33For the rest of the first half, I thought they were excellent.
00:35Their defensive structure was really good. LeBrice made a good tactical sweep.
00:38Dropping Dan Neill into the centre defence, Dan Neill was excellent.
00:41And Eliza Meander, he scored a Sunland goal but everything he did in the half was just excellent.
00:45Gave Sunland so much threat, so much ability in terms of his hold-up playing, his dribbling.
00:50I thought Sunland were excellent. Credit to Bristol City, they made some tactical changes at the break.
00:54They brought on Yu Hirakawa, who had a big impact on the right move.
00:57Ross McCrory across to the left, who had a big impact attacking crosses.
01:00The intensity, the tempo of their play was much, much better.
01:03So fair play. I think they probably deserved the win.
01:05I think it always looked like it was going to be difficult for Sunland to hold on once up.
01:08Bristol City made those changes and started making extra-man count.
01:11But I thought there were a lot of positives from Sunland, to be honest.
01:14They did struggle to hold the ball up in the second half, which was frustrating.
01:17I'm sure they'll be frustrated.
01:18But I thought the spirit and the defensive application was really, really good.
01:21I thought, as I said, Dan Neill's centre-half was excellent.
01:23Chris Mappam, again, is in excellent form going into the playoffs.
01:26So yeah, a really disappointing result in the end.
01:28But I think there are some positives or something to take away.
01:30And I don't think this will have any bearing on the playoffs, to be honest.
01:32I thought the organisation and the spirit was good.
01:35So I'll be back with On The Whistle tomorrow.
01:37So leave your questions in the comments and I'll get round to answering those.
01:42Thanks.
01:43Thanks.
01:44Thanks.
01:45Thanks.
01:46Thanks.