A DEFLATED Chris Coleman thinks Sunderland’s players have to come up with a way to be ready for the “biggest game of the season” after another dreadful day at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats lost 2-0 to Brentford on Wearside courtesy of a first half display that saw Kamo Mokotjo and Neal Maupay put the visitors in control with goals in the 13th and 28th minutes.

Brentford controlled the game from there on in really, even though Sunderland occasionally threatened through Swedish forward Joel Asoro.

Sunderland are three points clear of safety and head to Bolton, who sit four points above, in 20th, knowing a defeat would push them even closer to the unthinkable drop into League One next season.

Coleman said: "I should have expected it really I suppose. More grief, frustration and suffering, it's there really from the last four games, we were nervous, there was panic and a lack of cohesion really.

“We were two down at half-time and that's what we deserved. It's alarming because of the situation we're in but again the opposition didn't have to work hard to score the goals.

"I'll be ready for Tuesday and I look forward to it biggest game of the season. I need to make sure that I take a group of players who are ready for it also.

“If you're winning on the pitch you can cover a multitude of sins. It's a huge challenge, we've shown that when we really want to we can, we don't want to enough times. We've got three days until the game of the season and we have to get ready for that.”

Coleman admits, though, his players look completely different when they play on the pitch in the Championship – and that concerns him.

He said: "It's not about formations it’s about a state of mind, mentality. We gave Brentford three points before the break. I’ve got to stick at it and maybe change personnel and change things in training and I need to look at the situation because of where we are.

“Maybe it's too much for one or two because of where we are. There's been seasons of frustration and negativity. Fans have suffered because of lack of positivity and they're not getting that from us for the moment.

"The things that bothers me is that we're training well but when the bell rings we play a slightly different way so that what bothers me and I get annoyed with that. We've got to look at the type of characters we need in the team that we need to change.”

Brentford boss Dean Smith was clearly more satisfied and thinks Coleman is more the victory was comfortable – even though his team had not won for three matches beforehand.

The Bees are now five points adrift of the play-off places and Smith wants to see more of the same performance after an impressive display.

He said: "First half we came out of the blocks very well and we played as well as we have for a while. Second off we weren't as great but you go anywhere on the road score two goals and keep a clean sheet you're happy.

"We knew they would change something at half time but we went in front with a well worked goal. The only disquiet from me at half time was that we were only two goals up and the scoreline wasn't as comfortable as I would have liked.

"We came out of the traps very well, we spoke about starting on the front foot and we came and did that. They had a great comeback last week and we wanted to dampen that as quickly as we could.

“We all saw what happened with Aston Villa last season and Steve Bruce has turned that round there, and I think Chris can do the same at Sunderland. Any job's tough when you've been going through a tough period of results, it's up to Chris to turn round that slump but I think he can."