New Sunderland boss Chris Coleman tasted defeat in his first game in charge of the Black Cats, with the loss at Aston Villa confirming their status as the Championship’s bottom club.

Victory at Villa was a long-shot, with Steve Bruce’s men flying-high in the league, and Coleman will draw positives from the closely-fought 2-1 defeat.

The trip to Burton Albion this weekend is a game the former Wales boss will target as a must-win, with Sunderland’s relegation rivals sitting three points above them in the final relegation spot.

Sunderland enter the game against the former non-league side as underdogs, with a journalist at Coleman’s pre-match press conference raising this point with the new manager.

“That’s a realistic way of looking at things, and I like that,” admitted the 47-year-old.

“It hurts, it pinches.

“Burton have come from the lower leagues, but they’re a Championship club and we’re a Championship club.

“We’re the bottom club, that’s where we are and we have to face up to that.”

The Verdict

I think Sunderland fans will enjoy Coleman’s approach in his pre-match presser.

There is no point in the manager going in full guns blazing claiming that his side are going to claim the three points, because there is no guarantee this will happen.

Optimism is obviously required when involved in a relegation battle, but realism is equally as important.

Installing a false sense of belief in players and fans will only backfire when results do not go your way, and the approach taken by Coleman appears to be the correct one.

If the Swansea-born man can transfer his pragmatic approach to the situation onto the field, then Sunderland will begin to pick up results in the coming weeks.

Sunderland fans, what do you make of Coleman's comments ahead of the game? Have your say below...

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