Sunderland

Image source, PA Media

Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris spoke to BBC Radio Newcastle after the Black Cats beat Derby County 1-0 at Pride Park.

"I don't know, really [about why Isidor's goal was disallowed].

"Maybe with VAR we could analyse the first ball and maybe an offside, but I don't think it was that decision. It was higher up the pitch and at the moment we don't know.

"It could have changed the outcome of the game, but at the end it was another tough game and the balance was different for the duration.

"We started maybe a little slowly because they are direct, and then after 15 minutes were good and created many chances in the first half. And if you don't score the second goal, you know that the opponent will believe until the end and it happened like that.

"It's good for our character because it shows that even in these circumstances we are ready to defend until the end.

"I'd also like to have a more relaxed end to the game because it's important to avoid last-minute equalisers, and we have had them before."

Derby County welcome Sunderland on Tuesday as pressure mounts on Rams manager Paul Warne (19:45 GMT).

Derby have not won a league match in their past four league games to leave them only one point clear of the bottom three, while Sunderland's Friday fixture against fellow promotion contenders Burnley ended goalless.

Derby had success at Pride Park at the start of the season but the Rams have only won two of their past eight home games, whereas the Black Cats have only lost two of their past 10 away games.

• Derby are winless across their past 13 league games against Sunderland (D5 L8) since a 1-0 win at Pride Park in February 2001 in the Premier League.

• Sunderland are unbeaten across their past six away league games against Derby (W4 D2); the Black Cats' longest ever such run in this fixture.

• Derby have won two of their seven Championship games this season that have taken place in midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), losing three of them (D2); they did, however, win their last such game at home against West Brom 2-1 in December.

• Sunderland have won all four of their league games against newly promoted sides in the Championship this season, scoring eight goals and conceding only once.

• Derby boss Warne has won one of his previous five Football League encounters with Sunderland (D2 L2), losing each of the past two league meetings by an aggregate score of 0-5.

Image source, Rex Features

Sunderland's players have had "many discussions" about what happened in the final 10 minutes of last Friday's goalless draw at Burnley, with boss Regis Le Bris yet to confirm whether Wilson Isidor will remain their designated penalty taker.

Isidor had two penalties saved by Clarets goalkeeper James Trafford in the closing stages of the game at Turf Moor, denying the Black Cats what would have been an impressive three points.

"Now it is less emotional - it is best to avoid strong discussion just after as obviously we were disappointed after the game," Le Bris told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"We made five big chances and two penalties so we were disappointed and it wasn't the best moment to analyse and discuss the situation."

Questions were raised in the immediate aftermath over whether the 24-year-old, who is Sunderland's top scorer with eight goals, should have taken the second spot-kick, with Le Bris stating the team on the pitch made the call.

"The players had many discussions and it's part of the learning process and I'm sure we will learn from it even if it was difficult," Le Bris added.

"At the end, it's easier to say it probably wasn't the best decision but they made one together and I have to respect that - the way we want to build the team is to give them responsibility on the pitch and so far that hasn't been too bad."

Victory on Friday would have left the Black Cats just two points behind second placed Sheffield United ahead of Tuesday night's game at Derby and Le Bris has not said explicitly whether Isidor will take the team's next penalty.

"We'll see - (James) Trafford was good and expected that shot so Wilson now probably has to find different locations for his shots and it will be a useful experience for sure," he added.

Sunderland are close to signing Westerlo forward Matija Frigan, 21, with the Black Cats preferring a loan move, while the Belgian club are looking for a permanent deal. (Sunderland Echo, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip here.

Leeds United, Sunderland, Coventry City and Swansea City are all tracking Oxford United midfielder Tyler Goodrham. (Football Insider), external

Sunderland have reached a "personal agreement" with KVC Westerlo striker Matija Frigan, with the Black Cats hoping to an initial loan with an option to buy. (Het Nieuwsblad - in French), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Sunday's full gossip column.

Image source, Rex Features

Wilson Isidor has described his Turf Moor nightmare as the worst day of his life but vowed to return stronger for the experience.

The Sunderland striker endured a calamitous night, having two penalties saved in a goalless stalemate against fellow promotion hopefuls Burnley on Friday night.

Posting on X, the 24-year-old front man said: "Feel like a big slap in the face, and the worst day of my life because all of us know how I love this club."

Isidor, who is the Black Cats leading scorer with eight Championship goals this season, added: "I would like to apologise on my teammates, every single fans and all the person of this club for what happened.

"I feel really ashamed, but I promise you that I will come back stronger from this! See you Tuesday, HWTL."

Isidor, who was signed from Zenit St Petersburg last summer, also thanked Sunderland fans for messages of support received after the match.

Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris was in philosophical mood after watching his team draw 0-0 with promotion rivals Burnley.

He was pleased with how the Black Cats fared in a tough contest, but was disappointed that they did not capitalise, most notably through Wilson Isidor's two late penalties.

"We created five or six chances so we can be disappointed that we didn't score but it shows that we can play a tough team away," said the Frenchman.

"Wilson is disappointed, like the team. But football is like that. You can make mistakes but you have to learn from them. It's the best way to improve and grow. I am sure he can put this behind him, 100%.

"You have to deal with difficult experiences. The goalkeeper made two good saves, they weren't poor penalties."

Image source, Getty Images

Signing forward Aaron Connolly from Sunderland was a "no brainer" for Millwall, says Lions head coach Alex Neil.

Republic of Ireland international Connolly's move to The Den was announced shortly after Tom Bradshaw's exit to Oxford United had been confirmed on Thursday.

Connolly, 24, joined the Black Cats from Hull City in the summer but only scored two goals in 11 appearances for the club.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's Championship fixture against the Tigers, Neil said it was "fair to say" Connolly had not played as much as he would have liked at the Stadium of Light.

"With Tom leaving we needed to get in a replacement, we needed to make sure we had competition for places and Aaron became available on a short-term deal," he told BBC Radio London.

"It made sense - [they have] similar profiles in terms of a striker who can take the ball on; stocky, quick over the ground over the first five-to-10 yards, got a goal in him, so from our perspective it was a bit of a no-brainer.

"Hopefully Aaron can come in and hit the ground [running] between now and the end of the season."

Neil said he thought Connolly would "certainly be available" for selection against Hull after the player came through 120 minutes in Sunderland's extra-time 2-1 FA Cup defeat by Stoke City.

Manchester United are interested in a January move for Sunderland midfielder Jobe Bellingham, however, the Black Cats are not keen on selling the teenager until the summer. (Team Talk, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Friday's gossip here.

Adam Lanigan
BBC Sport England

Image source, Getty Images

Put simply, Aaron Connolly's time at Sunderland never really got going.

He arrived late after a difficult summer dealing with personal issues which he bravely spoke about shortly after moving to Wearside.

But by that time, Frenchman Wilson Isidor was finding his stride as the Black Cats' main man up front in boss Regis Le Bris' favoured 4-3-3 formation.

Connolly needed a run of games to find his rhythm, but that never came.

He scored his only goal in the 1-1 draw at Millwall in one of only two starts, but he did not even come off the bench in Sunderland's next game. That was proof of where he sat in the pecking order.

The move to The Den is probably best for all parties because, as Connolly showed last season at Hull, there is a very talented Championship player waiting to come out.

Burnley welcome fourth placed Sunderland for a shot at the top on Friday evening (20:00 GMT).

The Clarets are just one point shy of league leaders Leeds United, while the Black Cats will go above their hosts if they take all three points at Turf Moor.

The match could see a debut for Roma loanee Enzo Le Fee, with Sunderland bolstering their squad as they compete for an automatic promotion place - and avoid shock defeats such as exiting the FA Cup at the hands of a struggling Stoke City.

Meanwhile, it took extra time for Burnley to get past Reading in their cup victory at the weekend, but the win did mean they went a 14th successive game unbeaten across all competitions.

• Burnley have won just three of their past 23 league games against Sunderland (D9 L11), failing to score in five of their past seven matches.

• Sunderland have failed to win any of their past five away league games against Burnley (D3 L2), since a 2-0 win at Turf Moor in March 2005.

• Burnley have kept 17 clean sheets in just 26 league games this season and currently have the best goals-conceded per game rate by a team in a single season in English Football League history (0.35 – 9 in total).

• Sunderland have won just one of their past seven away league games (D4 L2), failing to score in four of those outings.

• In games between the current top four teams in the Championship this season (Leeds, Burnley, Sheffield United, Sunderland), Burnley (2.0 – W2 L1) and Sunderland (1.8 – W2 D1 L1) have the best points-per-game rates.

Sheffield United have offered £7m for Leicester's Republic of Ireland striker Tom Cannon, 22, who has been recalled from his loan at Stoke. (Football Insider, external)

Sunderland have also made a bid to sign Cannon, with an eye to purchase the Republic of Ireland international if they are promoted this season. (Sunderland Echo, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip here.

Millwall are interested in signing forward Aaron Connolly from Sunderland. The 24-year-old only signed for the Black Cats in September but has struggled to make an impact and could be available. (Sunderland Echo), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip here.

Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers have joined the race to sign Southampton forward Ben Brereton Diaz, with the Chile international struggling for game time on the south coast. (The Star, external)

However, the 25-year-old prefers either a loan move to Sheffield United or to see out the rest of the season with the Saints. (Daily Mail, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip here.

Borussia Dortmund have cooled their interest in a January move for Jobe Bellingham leading to Sunderland being hopeful they can hold onto the midfielder until the summer. (Sunderland Echo, external)

The Black Cats could bring in Ben Brereton-Diaz from Southampton to aid their promotion push, leading the race for the striker's signing ahead of his former clubs Sheffield United and Blackburn. (Sheffield Star, external)

Stoke could lose loan striker Tom Cannon this week, if Leicester decide to recall him and send him elsewhere, with Sunderland, Luton, Sheffield United and Wednesday all monitoring the 22-year-old Irish forward. (Leicester Mercury, external)

Want more EFL transfer stories? Read Sunday's full gossip column.