How Sunderland players have dealt with Alex Neil's shock exit and Tony Mowbray's appointment
The Black Cats fans weren't the only ones shocked when Alex Neil left the club, but Danny Batth says the players had to remain focused
Sunderland players have shown their professionalism after having to deal with a shock change in manager so early in the season. Experienced defender Danny Batth has explained how the squad coped with Alex Neil's surprise exit for Stoke City so early in the campaign.
While the move took most by surprise, the players had to keep their focus despite the turmoil behind the scenes and, while they have lost two of the three games since Neil's departure, have managed to keep their good early season form going.
Tony Mowbray has come in to steady the ship, overseeing the 3-0 win over Rotherham United. And even those two defeats were narrow 1-0 losses against Norwich City and Middlesbrough, both sides hoping to be involved in promotion shake-up.
READ MORE: Tony Mowbray believes Sunderland can compete with anyone in the Championship
Speaking after that defeat at the Riverside, Batth explained how the players had maintained their focus during a difficult period.
“As players you have a level of professionalism," he said. "When things happen around you it’s all about maintaining that inner belief and team spirit that has done so well for us.
“It’s a cliche but you have to block out the outside noise and look at what we can do well each day in training and how we can win games as a group.
"Things like that can happen in football, it’s the same with players, one minute a player can be playing every week and the next minute a player could leave the club. As a group of players, it’s about the team and how you stay together through any change.”
Sunderland are back in action on Saturday when they host Millwall at the Stadium of Light, before travelling to Reading on Wednesday, September 14.
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