|
Dick Advocaat struggled to raise a smile despite his side's 6-3 Capital One Cup win over Exeter at the Stadium of Light. The beleaguered Sunderland boss saw a Jermain Defoe hat trick steer his side past the League Two battlers, but not before a trio of defensive howlers had left the result in doubt. The Grecians twice hit back to reach the break level at 3-3 before Defoe, Jack Rodwell and Duncan Watmore sealed an ultimately convincing win. But Advocaat warned: "I am happy with the six goals but I am totally unhappy with the goals we gave away at this level. "I don't know if it has to do with concentration or sharpness but they were three crosses and three goals -- that's a worry and it's not the first time.'' Advocaat had named a strong team in a bid to give his side a winning mentality and he accepted the performance of Defoe in particular had given them a lift ahead of the weekend trip to Aston Villa. He added: "We scored some beautiful goals and Jermain got three. I never had the feeling they would beat us but I am still concerned about how we gave the chances away.'' Exeter boss Paul Tisdale hailed his side's performance but admitted the final result left him feeling "bitter-sweet''. Tisdale said: "Knowing how fatigued we are, when I looked at the team sheets at half past six I was thinking it could be a one-sided affair. "But our optimism grew significantly at 3-3 and I think we did ourselves proud in that first half before we were undone by Jermain Defoe. "It is bitter-sweet really. I'm proud of how we played but we ran out of legs and I feel a bit disappointed that we let them off the hook a little.''
|
