Mike Dodds explains decision to drop Anthony Patterson at Sunderland

Before this afternoon, Anthony Patterson had started 110 straight league games, but that streak came to an end as

Sheffield Wednesday benched the North-Easterner.

Bishop made his first appearance for the senior team since Sunderland’s Carabao Cup loss to Crewe Alexandra in August,

but he was unable to stop Sheffield Wednesday from winning the Championship thanks to goals in the first half from Josh Windass and Liam Palmer.

“Anthony Patterson was touch and go for the game anyway; he had taken a knock during the week,” Dodds stated. However,

the staff has just decided in the last few days that Nathan Bishop (ought to play) because of the impeccable manner in which he conducts himself.

“His conduct: while knowing he won’t likely play because Patto has been so reliable,

he consistently shows up every day and is among the best trainers.

“We’ve been discussing whether to give Bishop a chance because we wanted to see him in a game for a few weeks now.

“I’m not saying Anthony Patterson is going to leave, but if he keeps going in the same direction,

there will undoubtedly be a lot of interest in him.” Tommy Watson is another example today who has been training

with us and we went on the pitch today. Like many of the players, there has been a lot of ‘let’s see them’ with players like Chris Rigg.

Bishop needed to play so we could see if he could maybe be a number one for this football club down the line,

and he deserved to play because of way he has carried himself’, the player said.