Aji Alese says persistence paid off against Reading as Sunderland refused to settle for a point against the Royals. The Black Cats struggled to hit top gear at the Stadium of Light, lacking their usual sharpness, while Reading's determination to slow the game down and waste time at every opportunity also prevented the Wearsiders getting into their groove - particularly in the first half.
But Sunderland improved after half time and began to carve out chances, although they had to wait until five minutes from time before Patrick Roberts scored what turned out to be the only goal of the game. "Sometimes football is like that and you have games where you are not going to play your best or create the best chances," said Alese, who turned in another fine performance at left-back.
"In the first half I can't remember us creating anything really and the second half we came out. I remember Edouard's [Michut] chance and Pat [Roberts] had a few shots which went just wide.
READ MORE: Patrick Roberts admits Sunderland's forwards must step up to share the load with Joe Gelhardt
"We were knocking on the door and got the goal in the end. That's what football is about, just keep going until the final whistle and you can always nick something."
Alese was also pushed forward and found himself on the end of a couple of opportunities, sending one chance over the bar and later bringing a save out of on-loan Middlesbrough goalkeeper Joe Lumley.
He said: "Even though I'm a defender I do like to get forward and help out in attack. Like on Saturday where we felt like we needed an extra body higher up the pitch, I'm willing to do the running and help the team."
Alese suffered a foot injury in December which sidelined him for a month, but he has been involved in the Black Cats' last five games and has now completed back-to-back 90 minutes against Fulham in the FA Cup last Wednesday and then against Reading. The summer signing from West Ham said: "Now I've played the last two 90 minutes and I feel like each game I'm getting fitter and fitter playing more to my full capability.
"Hopefully I can stay fit and stay helping the team in whatever way possible. I just want to stay fit and help the team in whatever way possible."
Alese arrived as a centre-back but has also played a number of games at left-back and shown that he is more than capable of filling in there. Against Fulham he also showed another string to his bow, demonstrating a long throw that Sunderland will utilise as an attacking weapon from time to time.
He smiled: "I think we were 3-2 down on Wednesday so I just did it! On Friday in training I said 'do you want me to do a long throw again?' just as a joke and [Tony Mowbray] said 'oh yeah, what was that about on Wednesday? I never knew you had that'.
"We don't have the tallest team so I don't usually bring it out, but if needed I can do it."
Sunderland's win against Reading lifted them to seventh place in the table, and they are just a single point outside the play-off places. Their season continues tomorrow when they travel to London to face Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.
Alese said: "I'm sure we’ll have a good backing there so we just want to go out there and do our best for them and hopefully get another win."
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