Sunderland boss Sbragia banks on a late arrival at Newcastle this time

29 January 2009 02:19
Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia has blamed last year's derby defeat on a two-hour wait in the Newcastle dressing room and insisted he will control when his side enter St James' Park this weekend. [LNB] I decide: Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia insists he will decide his team's preparations for the Tyne-Wear derby this weekend.[LNB] Sbragia was among Roy Keane's coaching staff when Sunderland lost 2-0, their hopes extinguished by Michael Owen's early goal. Keane's successor believes the away side were disadvantaged by a police decision to have them in the dressing more than two hours before kick-off whereas they prefer to arrive 75 minutes in advance.[LNB]Sbragia said: 'I could smell it was not right at all last year. The players were twiddling around not knowing what to do and focusing on the game too early. We try to take that away from them to occupy their time in the dressing room. [LNB]'That day I remember people just sitting around gazing at each other reading the programmes and trying to look busy. The pre-match meal was rushed, the routine was upset, it was warm in the dressing room which is not the biggest and there were too many people in there. It was wrong, completely wrong. [LNB]'You expend a lot of emotional energy as it is because of the occasion and it seemed to distract an awful lot from the game. I know I was looking at my watch thinking this is not right. We looked lazy and tired when it started, conceded an early goal and just never got into the game. [LNB]'We want to be there one hour and 15 minutes before kick-off for the same preparation as for Fulham, a pre-match meal three hours before, talk about the game, watch a video of the opponents. This time we will leave when we want.' [LNB]With Paul McShane struggling with a hamstring pull just two games after his return from Hull City, and George McCartney building his fitness, Sbragia is hoping to bring in a defender before the derby. He has targeted Hearts' centre back Christophe Berra, with Bolton's Danny Shittu as a loan alternative.[LNB] Jones happy to refute Spurs' courtship to stay at 'big club' Sunderland[LNB]Bad break for Magpies: Cracked bones rule Owen out for six weeks and Barton for ten[LNB]SUNDERLAND FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB]NEWCASTLE UNITED FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB][LNB] [LNB]  

Source: Daily_Mail