Source: SKY_Sports
Richardson urges fans' trust
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Kieran Richardson insists Sunderland will strive for consistency following their Carling Cup heartache to Aston Villa on Tuesday.[LNB] The Black Cats were hoping to bounce back from their weekend defeat to Birmingham in the league, but went out of the cup on penalties thanks to Brad Guzan's heroics.[LNB]Sunderland missed a late penalty from Kenwyne Jones to settle the game while Richardson himself missed a one-on-one chance with Guzan to break the deadlock in extra-time.[LNB]Guzan was the hero for Villa in the penalty shoot-out and Richardson is hoping Sunderland have more luck on their side when they take on struggling West Ham this weekend.[LNB]Richardson believes Sunderland are still going through a transition period following Steve Bruce's arrival and his numerous signings and that the team will only get better the more they play together.[LNB]Hard to take"We played well and didn't take our chances, which is hard to take," he told the Sunderland Echo.[LNB]"We stepped up a gear compared to the Birmingham game and that is what the gaffer wanted.[LNB]"The defence was really solid and the players in the dressing room were gutted afterwards.[LNB]"Hopefully we get better reward and beat West Ham on Saturday.[LNB]"Villa are a good side, but so are we. I think we can go man for man with any team in the Premier League.[LNB]"We're a good unit now; the gaffer has brought some good players in.[LNB]"We're only nine or ten games in, but I think we look a good team and the more experience we get playing together we'll win more games."[LNB]
