Sbragia hints at Cisse axe

Black Cats boss considers changes for misfiring forwards

Last updated: 5th May 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Sbragia hints at Cisse axe

Sbragia: Considering changes

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Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia has hinted that he could be ready to axe on-loan striker Djibril Cisse from his starting line-up in the fight against relegation.

The Black Cats slipped to their sixth defeat in seven Premier League games against Everton on Sunday and head into Saturday's meeting with Bolton sitting just four points clear of danger.

Sunderland have also managed just four goals in their last 10 outings and that has led Sbragia to suggest that changes could be imminent.

The Scot has admitted that he was not impressed by Cisse, who is keen to secure a permanent move away from Marseille, against Everton and the forward's place alongside Kenwyne Jones is in doubt.

Sbragia said: "I think now is the time where we have to look at everything about our approach to away games, and that includes the formation and whether or not we go with two strikers from now on.

"The quality up to the front players wasn't the best and when we got it up there, especially Djibril, he never kept it enough, didn't retain it.

"Kenwyne Jones was okay, he worked hard. But when it comes to that final ball and the final decision, we were really careless and really poor with it."