Patrick Roberts has expressed his pride in representing Sunderland, despite facing recent criticism over his performances.
The 27-year-old former Celtic and Manchester City midfielder has been under scrutiny from some fans, particularly after missing a crucial penalty against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
Sunderland lost the match to their Championship promotion rivals, and Roberts’ spot-kick failure became a focal point for criticism on social media.
The penalty miss reignited discussions about Roberts’ contributions to the team, with some fans pointing to his limited goal-scoring record.
Before the match against Bristol City, Roberts had managed just one non-penalty goal in 18 months, raising questions about his overall output.
In the subsequent match against Bristol City, head coach Pierre Le Bris chose to bench Roberts. However, this decision was influenced by Roberts feeling unwell during Sunderland’s previous game against Stoke City, where he still managed to provide an assist for Tommy Watson’s late winner.
Le Bris was forced to bring Roberts into the action earlier than planned against Bristol City after Watson suffered an injury in the first half.
Roberts made the most of his opportunity, delivering a vital contribution by scoring Sunderland’s equaliser with a composed finish late in the game. His performance silenced some of his critics, highlighting his ability to influence matches when it matters most.
With six goal contributions to his name this season, Roberts is now Sunderland’s joint-most productive attacking player, sharing the accolade with Romaine Mundle.
His recent goal against Bristol City not only salvaged a point for Sunderland but also demonstrated his resilience in the face of criticism.
Roberts’ determination to contribute to the team, even amid scrutiny, underscores his commitment to Sunderland’s cause. As the Championship season progresses, his ability to deliver key moments will be crucial in the club’s push for promotion.
“Ever since I’ve come here, I’ve been trying to do my best for Sunderland and every time I’m proud to wear that shirt,” Roberts said when asked about criticism from Sunderland fans recently.
“It’s nearly three years now, I know I could probably do a lot more. I know myself. I’m very hard on myself, but at the same time, I’m trying to try my best.
“The first thing for me is Sunderland winning games, and I’ll take that any day over a goal and assist, but I know you need those things to win games, so I understand that point as well and I’m hoping I can add more to my game. I should be. I do believe a lot of myself, and I want to reach levels I’ve never reached before.
“The manager helps in that, he’s very confident and has a lot of belief in me and a lot of players, which is nice, but, yes, I can understand if maybe there’s criticism, it’s fine, it’s part of football and it doesn’t put me down too much. I still have a lot of belief in myself and just want to do well for the fans of the club and the people who brought me here and win Sunderland games and see when it takes us. That’s the most important thing.”
One of the criticisms levelled at Sunderland this season has been a lack of cutting-edge while on top in games.
The Black Cats have netted 29 times in the Championship during 2024-25 which is about average for the division. League leaders Leeds United have scored 36 and have four more points than Le Bris’ side after 20 games played.
“I think if you want to be a top team, you need to (score more)… you see all the top teams, they just score one, two, three, four,” Roberts added.
“I think that’s a big area we need to learn, especially me personally. It’s one thing I’m trying to add to my game personally and so are the others. Everyone’s a young team, but we’ve been doing well in terms of setting up defensively and building up. I think it’s just that final bit of being composed in that final area. That will come with more games and more learning.
“These things, we’ve just got to work on the training pitch and just add that 5-10 per cent, like I said. Hopefully, these things come and I’m sure if we work hard enough, they will. Of course, I try my best to score. It’s not like I go out there to miss. I do my best to put it in the back of the net. Sometimes it doesn’t happen. Tonight was a nice moment. For me, it’s about whoever scores, it’s about winning games.
“Since I’ve come here, I’ve just wanted to help Sunderland get back to where they belong. If it meant me not scoring and we win every single game, I’d take that in a heartbeat. Personally, obviously, you want to score goals and create chances. That’s what I should be doing more. I’m trying my best to work on that and do more of that.
“Like I said, winning games for Sunderland, for me, is the most important. Putting on that shirt and going out there and taking three points. Going home and making the fans happy. That’s all I can dream about. We work on it and I’ll work on it. We do put in our hours. Hopefully, that will click. We need to win games. That’s, like I said, both ends of the pitch. That’s everyone involved as a team. The manager, obviously, instils that into us. We keep plugging away. We keep going. There’s loads more games of football.”
Patrick Roberts has hailed the attitude of teammate Adil Aouchiche following Sunderland’s dramatic draw against Bristol City in the Championship on Tuesday night. Both players came off the bench and played pivotal roles in salvaging a crucial point for Régis Le Bris’ side.
Aouchiche delivered a perfectly timed assist for Roberts, who fired home the Black Cats’ equaliser late in the game, cancelling out Bristol City’s second-half lead.
Their impactful performances underscored their value to the team and demonstrated their ability to turn a game around under pressure.
Roberts’ praise for Aouchiche reflects the duo’s growing partnership and highlights the Frenchman’s creative influence in key moments. Together, they ensured Sunderland avoided defeat in a fiercely contested match.
