Regis Le Bris highlights Sunderland player for special praise after Bristol City draw

REGIS LE BRIS claims Patrick Roberts is the “perfect example” of what Sunderland are going to need if they are going to win promotion this season.

Roberts was dropped to the bench for last night’s home game with Bristol City, with Le Bris opting to start with Eliezer Mayenda on the right-hand side instead.

However, the winger got his opportunity to come onto the pitch when Tommy Watson was injured in the first half, and responded by scoring the stoppage-time goal that secured a 1-1 draw.

Le Bris was delighted with Roberts’ response to finding himself on the bench, and felt the wide-man’s persistence after coming onto the field provided an ideal example for the rest of his team-mates to follow.

“Patrick made the cut-back against Stoke (at the weekend) for the victory too,” said Le Bris. “Today, he got the late equaliser, and it is a good example of character.

“He is the most experienced player, and it is good that he can show that this is the right direction for us – to be ambitious and to keep going. It is a good example for the rest of the team to follow if we want to achieve our ambitions in this league.”

Sunderland fell behind shortly after the hour mark last night when Luke McNally fired into the roof of the net.

However, while the Black Cats were far from their free-flowing best, Le Bris’ continued to plug away against a well-drilled Bristol City defence.

Chris Rigg saw a backheeled strike blocked on the edge of the six-yard box, before Sunderland broke through in the third minute of stoppage time.

Adil Aouchiche dribbled in from the left, and Roberts squeezed a shot between goalkeeper Max O’Leary and the left-hand post.

“I said in the dressing room after the game that we have to show our ambition, and this late equaliser is very important because it shows that we have good character,” said Le Bris, whose side also scored a stoppage-time equaliser against Leeds United earlier this season.

“It was very late, and if we want to achieve our goal in this league, we have to show that type of character. It is a desire that we need to have. We need it every day. Probably, there is five or ten per cent missing right now, so we have to take the responsibility to find a solution for that.”