Looking at the 2-0 defeat back in his native north-east, he says:
"That was the first defeat away from home since September - and it was a great run that had to come to an end sooner or later.
"But I don't think you can read too much into it; it was a one-off.
"All credit to Sunderland - they capitalised on a poor performance from us, though we still caused them a couple of problems at the other end.
"It was frustrating because it was the worst game we have had for a while.
"They made it difficult for us, pressurising and making the pitch small.
"We weren't on top of our game so it made it difficult."
As for those 'Joe Cole to return on loan' rumours, Michael, a friend of Joe, says:
"No - it is simple as that.
"He is not going to come back."
Regarding the loss of Matthew Etherington on Saturday to a crude Stephen Wright challenge - Wright himself insists it was a clean tackle - he says:
"He is the only out and out wide left midfield player we have got and he gives us a lot of quality down that left hand side and causes us a lot of problems.
"When he is taken out of the team it is not the same without him and we had to change the system a bit when he left the field.
"The tackle was a bit harsh, to be fair; I know he got the ball but he seemed to follow through and 'do' Mattie.
"What can you say? I know Wright and he is a nice lad so I wouldn't have thought he meant anything."
Wright would have been suspended for the FA cup semi-final against Tranmere or Millwall if he had got sent off, but Michael adds:
"That is the referee for you, and you don't expect much going to places like Sunderland.
"You get used to it, I suppose."