Asamoah Gyan has expressed his frustration over Sunderland’s lack of concentration at set-pieces in the wake of his side’s 2-1 defeat to Tottenham.
The Ghanaian opened the scoring for the hosts with a sharp turn and finish after 13 minutes, but Michael Dawson’s equaliser before half-time and Niko Kranjcar’s second-half strike condemned Sunderland to their third defeat in a row.
“It was a good goal, I’m so happy to score this kind of goal. [Losing the game] is quite disappointing but I’m happy with the goal, it was a great goal,” said Gyan.
“It’s quite frustrating because we lost the same game at Stoke. We dominated the game then all of a sudden we lost the game, that’s what happened today. It didn’t look like we were losing the game, we took control in the first half but we conceded a late goal during the first half.”
“We came back strongly in the second half, we were doing well and we conceded a goal again so it’s quite frustrating but it’s football,” he continued.
“We lacked a little bit of concentration because we were doing well, everyone was doing well and we conceded a goal through a set piece – like Stoke. We lost a bit of concentration, that is where our problems come from, we should just wake up a bit and we’ll be ok.”
The Ghanaian forward was noncommittal when asked whether he played with a strike partner or in a solo role but said he feels his form is a good sign for the team.
“As I always say, I don’t doubt my quality. Whether we are playing with two strikers or just one I make sure I keep on going and sometimes I help my team to win the game.”
“It’s a bit sad, we’ve lost three in a row but personally I think my game so far is quite impressive and it’s a big sign for the team, it’s a good thing for the team. Not me alone, the whole team body is doing so well,” he added.
“Quite unfortunately we concede silly, silly goals. I hope if we keep on concentrating on the game we will get better because we’re playing good football.”
Gyan admitted the side felt deflated going in at half-time after Dawson levelled minutes before the interval but maintained that they didn’t let it affect them in the second half.
“We were a bit down but not during the game. It’s quite frustrating, taking command of the game and then conceding a goal it does [affect you] and that’s why everyone was a bit down but still the concentration was there. As I say, it is football so there’s nothing to say.”
The Sunderland forward explained that having a Ghanaian spine will only help the team before going on to praise Stephane Sessegnon.
“I’ve played with them (Sulley Muntari and John Mensah) for a long time, eight years in the national team. I’ve with Sulley [Muntari] at Udinese and I know what he can do. If he gets the ball I know what he wants to do. It’s a good move for him, I’ve seen Sulley [Muntari] play for a long time so it’s a good thing for the team.”
“[Sessegnon] is a fantastic player, I know him from [playing in] France. He was one of the best players in France, he’s [a] top [player]. He hasn’t played [in our team] for quite a while since he came here and as time goes on he’ll get used to the English Premier League.”
“In today’s game he did fantastic, he did so well, he’s a ball juggler so if he’s on top shape he will help the team,” concluded Gyan.