Big Cats must now prove their worth

Apr 28 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

RICKY Sbragia has warned Sunderland’s "big name" players that they need to start proving their worth – as he considers breaking up the Djibril Cissé-Kenwyne Jones partnership.

The Black Cats are right back in trouble after the shocking defeat at West Brom – just a week after it appeared as if they had stolen a march on the rest of the relegation pack by beating Hull.

That laid Sunderland open to accusations of complacency, charges that Sbragia has rejected, and has thrown the contribution of marquee names like Cissé and Jones into focus.

Cats boss Sbragia is toying with the idea of changing his team’s formation for away games – and will scrutinise the claims of David Healy for a starting place in the run-up to the Everton game.

Cissé and Jones (pictured right) had scored in each of the games leading up to the West Brom match but both looked well short against the Baggies and Sbragia wants to see better performances in the final four games.

The lack of coherence between Cissé and Jones has been a familiar and depressing theme of the campaign but it shows little signs of improving and Sbragia does not have time for them to develop it during matches.

“Our big names came up short against West Brom and we need them in the run-in,” Sbragia said. “They need to play well because we’re better as a team when they do. But to be fair, we were short all over the pitch against West Brom. Kieran Richardson struggled, Teemu Tainio was okay, but the back four didn’t look too safe, where they were excellent last week against a good Hull side.

“We asked them to be committed but it doesn’t always happen. As much as I’d love to say ‘Yeah, we’re going to get it 38 games a season’ that’s never going to happen. We know that. But we can’t afford to play like that again.”