Steve Cotterill says Sunderland fans were on the verge of turning before 'cruel' late winner

Shrewsbury boss Steve Cotterill says Sunderland's injury-time winner was 'cruel' - and believes the crowd at the Stadium of Light was on the verge of turning after the Black Cats had thrown away a two-goal lead. Sunderland took command of the game early on, with goals from Elliot Embleton and Nathan Broadhead inside the opening 15 minutes putting them in control.

They let the tempo drop for 20 minutes, however, and Shrewsbury hit back to level before the hour through Josh Vela and ex-Black Cat Tom Flanagan. Sunderland then reasserted themselves and laid siege to the Shrewsbury goal, with Ross Stewart hitting the woodwork and bringing an excellent save out of the keeper, before Broadhead scored the winner in the 92nd minute.

But one-time Sunderland assistant manager Cotterill did not see it like that. He felt that at 2-2 Shrewsbury had quietened the crowd and if anyone was going to find a winning goal, it would be his side.

"I am so disappointed for the lads, not with them, because they gave so much and we didn't deserve to get beat, but we have a long journey home with no points in the skip," he said. "The winning goal was so cruel because we definitely deserved something from that.

"It is really tough for us. At 2-2 I thought only one team was going to win it.

"We played well, especially in the second-half, when we were really good but it took 22 minutes before we put our first passing movement together and before we played with any arrogance. We created enough to get a third but it is difficult when you come to a club of this size because 32,000 can drive them on and get behind them.

"It does give you extra energy having that behind you. This is a difficult place to come and get a result - even tougher when you're