Régis Le Bris praised Sunderland’s mentality and intensity after they overcame Everton on penalties in the FA Cup, hailing both the team’s response to midweek disappointment and Enzo Le Fée’s decisive contribution.
The Black Cats progressed to the fourth round after a 1-1 draw was settled by a 3-0 penalty shootout win at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Sunderland respond after Brentford setback
Sunderland were keen to react after their defeat at Brentford earlier in the week, and Le Bris felt his side delivered the response he was looking for.
They were moments away from winning the third-round tie in normal time after Enzo Le Fée’s first-half strike, before James Garner converted a late penalty for Everton — a decision Le Bris described as harsh.
Despite that setback, Sunderland regrouped and dominated the shootout to book their place in the next round.
“Yes, it was important to react after Brentford,” Le Bris said.
“We were upset, which was normal because we were not at our best. Today we were ready for the fight.”
Intent clear as Sunderland take FA Cup seriously
Le Bris made a point of naming a strong XI, underlining Sunderland’s desire to treat the FA Cup with respect rather than rotate heavily.
“We wanted to respect the competition,” he explained.
“They are a good team, really intense. They like to go direct, to cross a lot. We were strong in duels and composed on the ball to play the football we wanted.”
While acknowledging Sunderland could have created more chances, the head coach felt the performance showed the right balance of control and aggression.
“It’s tough to say we want to win the FA Cup,” he added.
“It’s a long journey and unpredictable. But we want to respect the game, be competitive and give everything. That’s what we did.”
Le Bris impressed by Le Fée’s character
Le Bris reserved special praise for Le Fée, who had endured a frustrating moment earlier in the week after missing a penalty but responded in style.
The French midfielder opened the scoring with a superb volley and then stepped up confidently to take Sunderland’s first penalty in the shootout.
“Yes, it was really good,” Le Bris said.
“I’m not surprised, but it was important to show it on the pitch, especially at the end of a busy period when you get tired.”
“He showed great consistency. We need decisive players to make the difference. He scored in the game and then scored his penalty as well.”
Penalty composure seals progress
Le Bris also highlighted the collective effort during the shootout, where Sunderland were flawless from the spot.
Goalkeeper Robin Roefs made three impressive saves, while Granit, Luke and Le Fée all converted their penalties.
“It was important for Enzo to give us the right rhythm with the first penalty,” Le Bris said.
“Robin made the saves, but we still had to score — and we did.”
Focus quickly shifts back to league action
Sunderland’s attention now turns back to the Premier League, with a home fixture against Crystal Palace scheduled for Saturday 17 January.
Le Bris will hope the confidence and intensity shown in the FA Cup can carry over into league form as his side continue to balance domestic priorities.
Key insights
- Sunderland beat Everton on penalties in the FA Cup
- Le Bris praised the reaction to the Brentford defeat
- A strong XI showed Sunderland’s intent in the competition
- Enzo Le Fée impressed with a goal and penalty
- Sunderland remain focused on respecting every round
What’s next
With momentum restored, Sunderland will look to build on this result when Crystal Palace visit in the league. The FA Cup remains a challenge rather than a declared target — but Le Bris’ message is clear: Sunderland intend to compete fully while they remain in it.
Can Sunderland use this FA Cup confidence to spark a strong run in both competitions?
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