DRAW EMOTION

Johnson vows to overcome Black Cats old problem and keep going for wins to go up

IT is the scoreline which sends a shiver through Sunderland fans.

And the result which is largely responsible for the Black Cats spending a third season in League One (including, above right, Aiden McGeady).

Too many 1-1 draws cost Lee Johnson’s two predecessors their jobs with Sunderland over the past three years, far too often failing to turn the screw when ahead and letting their opponents back into games.

A glance at today’s League One table shows them having lost fewer games than any rivals.

But with 13 draws – the same as Shrewsbury – no-one in football’s third tier has shared the spoils more often. The habit could yet cost Sunderland a top-two finish but if they do miss out, it will not be Johnson’s fault.

Most of the damage was done before his arrival at the Stadium of Light and he insists it would be wrong to suggest they are in danger of repeating past mistakes.

“That’s a bit harsh on the back of the run we’ve just had,” said Johnson (above, left), whose side were pegged back when Lincoln’s Callum Morton coolly slotted home a second-half equaliser after Callum McFadzean had headed the hosts into a 40th-minute lead.

“You could see we went for it. It wasn’t a case of making substitutions to hang on to a onegoal lead or hold out for a draw.

“We always try to get two on the board and make tactical decisions after that.

“There’s a bit of disappointment in the dressing room but there are still plenty of positives. We’ve stretched the unbeaten run to 11 games.” Lincoln could count themselves unlucky not to take all three points with goalkeeper Lee Burge pulling off two fine saves.

Recent results may have suggested their promotion push was grinding to a halt but their performance did not and manager Michael Appleton believes they have fresh momentum.

He said: “I know it sounds stupid but we built the platform in midweek when even though we lost at home to Gillingham, we played well.

“And I think we got our reward for that against Sunderland.

“We had them on the ropes after our goal.”

SUNDERLAND: Burge 8, McLaughlin 7, O’Nien 5, Sanderson 6, McFadzean 7, Power 6, Leadbitter 6 (Stewart 71, 6), Winchester 6 (Scowen 63, 5), McGeady 7, Gooch 5 (Maguire 77), Wyke 6.

LINCOLN: Palmer 7, Poole 6, Jackson 6, Montsma 7, Bramall 6, Bridcutt 6, McGrandles 7, Edun 6, Rogers 6, Johnson 6 (Scully 74, 6), Morton 7.

MOTM

LEE BURGE (SUNDERLAND)