Sunderland boss Gus Poyet explained benching Adam Johnson and Jack Rodwell for their win over Stoke City.
Poyet is confident that Johnson and Rodwell will take their omission in the right manner.
"I think Jonno has been unlucky really," said Poyet. "He has been giving us so much for long periods and I've been dropping him in the best moments of the game - the last 20 when everyone is tired.
"On Saturday, I was thinking he's going to be fresh for that period, but we didn't have the ball.
"He had to run and run and run!
"But they know their role, it's clear.
"I just want them to be professional - not be happy, but accept my decision because that's what I'm here for.
"We were asking Jack certain things that he was doing well.
"But we needed something different on Saturday, controlling things a little bit more. Things that happened."
