JACK ROSS has criticised the Football League’s disciplinary process after Max Power was prevented from playing in last night’s Checkatrade Trophy win over Stoke City’s Under-21s even though the match does not count towards his three-match suspension.

Sunderland opened their Checkatrade Trophy account with a 4-2 penalty shoot-out win after playing out a goalless draw with Stoke’s second-string, but Ross was frustrated at the events that preceded the game at the Stadium of Light.

Yesterday morning, Power lost his appeal against his dismissal for serious foul play in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Oxford United, and Sunderland had assumed last night’s game would form part of his suspension.

However, the EFL informed the Black Cats that while Power is unable to play in “any fixture”, the Checkatrade Trophy is not an “approved competition” that counts towards his ban. Therefore, the midfielder will still have to sit out Sunderland’s next three league games against Fleetwood Town, Burton Albion and Rochdale.

“There’s a lot of criteria you have to fill when it comes to picking your team for this competition,” said Ross. “You also get dragged to meetings to make sure you promote the competition and take it seriously, but then you get the nonsense that went on earlier today. It makes it difficult as a manager.

“In terms of the appeal process and the findings, I’ve got no problem. But I’ll never get my head around him not being available tonight, and I know there are other clubs in the same boat.

“I received a communication not long before kick-off that was attempting to clarify the situation, but that was reactive, because there’s been some criticism. It’s unfortunate they had not prepared for it.”

On the pitch, Ross was unhappy with his side’s laboured first-half display, but relatively satisfied with the way they improved after the break.

Chances remained at a premium, although Chris Maguire hit the crossbar and substitute Benjamin Kimpioka missed a glorious late opportunity before Robbin Ruiter’s two saves settled the penalty shoot-out.

“First half, we were poor to be honest,” said Ross. “Flat and slow. I was angry at half-time, but second half we were better, the tempo was better and we plugged away.

“I was pleased we got the reward at the end, and it wasn’t an easy game to play in. There was a really good crowd in with regard to the game itself, but within the stadium, it obviously has a very different feel.”

Ross reserved special praise for youngster Denver Hume, who was Sunderland’s Man of the Match despite having to play out of position at right-back.

The left footer impressed over the course of the 90 minutes, and scored his side’s fourth and final penalty in their shoot-out success.

“I thought he was one of the few in the first half that had a real aggressiveness, and I mean that in the best possible way,” said the Sunderland boss. “I’ve been really pleased with him all the way through pre-season and the season so far, he’s adapted really well to how we train and do things.

“I have some sympathy for him because he keeps having to play on his wrong side, but hopefully that shows I trust him and for him moving forward, it’ll stand him in really good stead. When he gets to plays on his strong side, he will flourish.”