Interim Sunderland head coach Mike Dodds says he'll throw himself under the bus to defend his players and doesn't want any apologies for mistakes they might make on the pitch.

It comes after Jobe Bellingham took to social media following the 4-2 defeat at Southampton, apologising for his misplaced header in the build-up to the Saints' opener.

It was in large, an afternoon to forget for Sunderland on the south coast, but Jobe did curl an effort in from 25-yards out to equalise midway through the second-half and hand the Black Cats a lifeline.

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Jobe's apology on social media wasn't needed, with the majority of the red and white fanbase accepting that mistakes are part of the game and there were no accusations of players not trying.

Dodds also revealed Luke O'Nien apologised to him, for his part in Norwich City's winner at Carrow Road, but the Black Cats interim boss says he can live with mistakes.

"It’s a good point, because Luke O’Nien came and apologised to me after the Norwich game because he felt he should’ve done better with the goal," Dodds told We Are Sunderland when asked about needing to protect his youngsters and Jobe's public apology. "Obviously, Jobe apologised to the group and then did so on social media.

"I’ve said to the players I never want an apology. I never want an apology. I know if you’re giving me everything and part of football is you’re going to make mistakes. I said the same to Jobe.

"I said the same to Luke. If a player gives everything, I can live with the mistakes. Jobe has obviously made a mistake for the first goal [at Southampton] and after the game he was devastated by it. But at the same time, he did bend one in the top corner from 30-yards and he’s not coming out online saying ‘look at my goal.’

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"I go back to my point – we’ve got a really good group and we’ve got a really good dressing room. We’re all going through a spell at the moment which we will all be stronger for coming out the other end. That being said, we do need that first win and that’s really clear to myself and the whole group.

"They’re just a good group and that’s why I will defend them. I will throw myself under the bus to protect them because I know they’re giving everything.

"If I felt we had a fractious group or that we had any individuals that weren’t all in, I would then protect myself. I think we’ve got a really good group."