Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Gus Poyet: I am responsible, I have to take it - but Sunderland manager won't quit after seeing side beaten 4-0 by Aston Villa

Christian Benteke and Gabriel Agbonlahor score two each in first half

Staff
Saturday 14 March 2015 19:54 GMT
Comments
Tim Sherwood celebrates at the Stadium of Light as Gus Poyet looks away
Tim Sherwood celebrates at the Stadium of Light as Gus Poyet looks away (GETTY IMAGES)

Gus Poyet insisted he will not walk away from the Sunderland job, despite suffering a crushing four-nil home defeat that plunged his odds on surviving to four to one on.

Poyet faced open rebellion from the club's support during the defeat with sections of fans being blocked by stewards from remonstrating with the home dugout during the catastrophic first half, in which all of the goals were conceded.

Many supporters did not return to their seats for the second half. Sunderland have sacked Paolo di Canio, Martin O'Neill and Steve Bruce in the last three-and-a-half years and Poyet accepted the loss and the perilous nature of the club's position, fourth bottom, was his fault.

However the manager, who is contracted at the Stadium of Light until 2016, showed no signs that he will resign from the position he took in October 2013.

"It is is not even in question," he said. "I am extremely disappointed. I was not expecting this to happen. It is football I suppose but I have not spoken to the owner.

I don't know. I don't speak to the owner after every game. We speak when we need to speak.

"We conceded one goal and after that it was awful, awful to watch. Sometimes thing happen for a reason.

"The first half was not acceptable. I am responsible. One of the few in football, I am honest. When things go wrong I'm telling you I'm responsible. I don't pick and choose. I hate people who pick and chose and who have too many faces.

"I'm trying to be careful because it would be too easy to blame everybody and throw plenty of news of to you. It is not me, I need to accept the responsibility."

Christian Benteke of Aston Villa celebrates scoring their fourth goal (GETTY IMAGES)

Poyet revealed that Seb Larsson had started the second half four minutes late because he was having stitches in a leg wound.

"They accused us of being a pub team," he said. "He had a massive cut in his leg and they were trying to stitch it. It was unrespectful."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in