Cambridge United boss Mark Bonner admits Sunderland 'put us to the sword' after his side was reduced to ten men inside the opening quarter-hour at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats won an early penalty when Ross Stewart was flattened by Lloyd Jones, with the U's defender shown a red card for denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity while Stewart tucked away the spot-kick to set Sunderland on their way to a 5-1 win.
Bonner felt the penalty was justified but that the red card was harsh - a view shared by his opposite number Alex Neil - and, while he described it as a turning point in the game, he did not seek to use it as an excuse, and praised Sunderland for their performance. "The turning point is obviously the red card," said Bonner, who later tipped either Sunderland or Sheffield Wednesday to win promotion through the play-offs.
"Sunderland started the game well, but we were trying to get some control of the game and an understanding of where we were. Then very soon after, we're one down, down to ten men, and an incredibly difficult task becomes, you don't want to say impossible, but almost impossible.
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"It was certainly a challenging moment for us. It's probably a foul, but the sending off is for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity, and the player that was fouled didn't even have control of the ball at the time, so I don't know it's an obvious goalscoring opportunity if I'm honest.
"He [Stewart] does extremely well to get his body in front of Lloyd Jones and there is contact with him, but it does feel very harsh that that's a red card. The result feels harsh on us because you never want to lose like that, but with the dominance of Sunderland, they were going to run away with the game at certain times.
"In some respects, it could even have been a few more against us. We've got a really spirited team but, it [the scoreline] could have been anything to be honest.
"I thought Lynden Gooch was outstanding, the number of crosses he got into the box. I thought that Stewart was outstanding and looked a real threat, these are top players.
"Top players chasing things don't go easy on you. They put us to the sword, and the little moments didn't go for us.
"We thought there was a double handball in the build-up to the fourth goal, but of course we can defend the cross better."
Cambridge won promotion from League Two last season and they arrived on Wearside having assured their place in League One again next term with a win against Morecambe earlier this month. Bonner said the defeat at Sunderland was not one of their better days, but insists he is proud of his team's achievements this season as they go into the final game in lower midtable.
He said: "We've had some unbelievable away days this season, but let's be honest, that wasn't one of them. I said in our meeting the night before that I felt Sunderland would be the team who would disrupt us the most, and with one less player on the pitch it becomes very, very difficult.
"It felt a long time out there and I felt for the players, because they've given everything for us this year. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I'm really proud of my team."
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