Sunderland icon slams ‘brainless’ fans for Tommy Watson treatment amid £10m transfer as star shares team reaction

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Tommy Watson is set to join Brighton this summer after his deal was announced weeks ago, with an ex-Sunderland striker calling out fans after some voiced frustrations at youngster in recent fixtures.

Sunderland secured a Championship play-offs place with five games to spare this season as Regis Le Bris’ side have been destined to finish in fourth for weeks.

Of late, with Le Bris opting to rest and rotate his key players ahead of the play-off campaign, the flat mood on Wearside has mirrored the performances of late after three defeats on the bounce.

On the transfer front, life at Sunderland has been far more eventful with young winger Tommy Watson’s £10m summer move to Premier League Brighton announced earlier this month, despite his side’s Championship season yet to be decided.

Amid Sunderland’s worrying form, one club legend has called out “brainless” sections of the fanbase for booing Brighton-bound Watson in recent fixtures.

• READ MORE: Chris Rigg reveals what Sunderland want to ‘show’ Championship rivals

Sunderland legend labels fans ‘brainless’ for booing Tommy Watson

In the wake of Sunderland’s 2-1 defeat at Bristol City, Black Cats fans took to social media after Watson’s “horrendous” performance to share how they really feel over his impending £10m move. Watson was lacklustre, lifeless and looked totally disinterested against Liam Manning’s side.

Most recently, Watson started in the 1-0 Easter Monday defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers, and looked far more productive than his performances following his transfer announcement.

During the Blackburn Rovers defeat – their third loss in a row with Watson starting all three – smatterings of boos could be heard from the Stadium of Light stands, drowning out claps from some supporters.

Sunderland fans’ frustrations stem from the academy graduate’s decision to depart his boyhood club amidst their Premier League promotion fight. Now, club legend Marco Gabbiadini has hit back at the “brainless” booing brigade.

Gabbiadini told BBC Sport: “It seems a little bit brainless to me.

“We’ve got players, the top players in the country, who are coming to the end of their contracts and they’re still playing for their teams but talking about where they’re going to be next year and they might be leaving.

“He has agreed a deal in advance of the season finishing. The club are going to do well out of it. Hopefully in the future even better. He might even end up back here on loan in the summer.

“You never know what might happen. He might have a fairy tale end to the season.”

Amidst the anger and frustration vented from the stands towards the 19-year-old, Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson has revealed the dressing room reaction to the Watson vitriol.

He told the Sunderland Echo: “We’re just helping Tommy as much as we can, that’s all we can do really,”

Watson has made 18 Championship appearances for Sunderland this season, deputising for injured left-winger Romaine Mundle, and his only two goal contributions came with his brace against Stoke City back in early December.

• READ MORE: Sunderland must not repeat worrying Championship play-offs history

What should Sunderland do with £10m Tommy Watson fee

Le Bris has demanded a “shift” from Sunderland now to go full tilt for play-off glory, and Watson still has his part to play until Mundle returns from the sidelines, but the Black Cats’ summer recruitment looks far more prosperous with the £10m banked for Watson.

Sunderland have already lost out on Marcus Edwards, a previous top transfer target, following Burnley’s recent Premier League promotion under Scott Parker.

The Black Cats also risk losing a handful of key stars this summer, including the likes of Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg, if they fail to earn promotion through the upcoming play-offs.

Of all Sunderland’s summer signings, Bournemouth loanee Chris Mepham has been the most successful, with his consistent resolute defensive displays playing a pivotal role in his side boasting the fourth-highest clean sheet rate (17 from 44 games) so far this season.

Cherries loanee Mepham has said this season: “I’ve made it clear I love playing my football here. I love my connection I’ve made with my teammates and the staff and fans, and if it’s a possibility in the summer, it’s definitely one I’d be open to.”

If the Black Cats can use the £10m Watson funds to tie Mepham down permanently, and offer bumper contracts to some of their top talents to persuade them to stay on Wearside, that would be an exceptional trade for a 19-year-old with only 21 senior appearances.