Simon Grayson frustrated as Fleetwood 'switch off' at key moments in defeat at Sunderland

Grayson’s return to his former club didn’t go as he had hoped as goals from Aiden O’Brien and Max Power in the last half-hour lifted the Black Cats to fifth in League One and left Town 17th.

And Grayson stressed his side need to take more care of the ball to avoid giving away sloppy goals.

“It’s frustrating because we know we can do better,” Grayson said. "We gave the ball away too cheaply as well. We’re a good footballing team.

“We gave it away unnecessarily, which allowed Sunderland to have a little bit more momentum.

"Obviously coming here isn’t easy - they’re on a good run at the moment.

“We switched off with one of our centre-backs and O’Brien nipped, then we switched off for the set-piece as well for the second goal.

“This is the second defeat since I took over but there wasn’t a lot in it. You’ve got to make sure you defend your 18-yard box well.

Grayson believes the scoreline was flattering to the hosts, though Fleetwood failed to muster a single shot on goal in the absence of Paddy Madden and have failed to score in seven of their last 10 games.

They at least have an eight-point cushion over Rochdale directly beneath them and are nine clear of the relegation zone.

Grayson added: "Was it a 2-0 game? Not really. I don’t think there was too much in the game to be fair in the first half.

“We had a chance in the first half and one of the strikers nearly got on the end of it.

“Our keeper has hardly had a save to make apart from the last 15 minutes, when we’re pushing forward, trying to get the equaliser.

“There have been encouraging signs, we’re just disappointed in the manner of the goals we’ve conceded.

“We didn’t look like scoring too often but we gave a couple of cheap goals away.”

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