Maguire thriving in the big game atmospheres

SIX THINGS WE LEARNED FROM SUNDERLAND’S AWAY TRIUMPH AT BRADFORD CITY ON SATURDAY

The dogged and tenacious performance of Chris Maguire summed up the spirit in this Sunderland side.

The 29-year-old Scot has firmly established himself as a fans’ favourite and if the end of season honours were handed out today then he’d be in with a shout of taking them all home.

Maguire was excellent in the 2-1 win over Bradford City.

With Max Power sent for an early bath with 25 minutes still remaining it was going to take a determined performance to see Sunderland home.

With Josh Maja and then Jerome Sinclair sacrificed for more defensive reinforcements, Maguire was pushed into the lone striker role and led from the front, using all of his experience to buy fouls, kill time, run the ball into the corner and chase down City’s defenders to stop them breaking quickly.

Lee Cattermole, sub George Honeyman and the rest of the Sunderland side all played their part but Maguire caught the eye with the near 3,000-strong travelling support serenading the forward.

Ross said: “He is in a good place. His performance level has been good this season, bar a little dip for a couple of games.

“Whatever position we have asked him to play he has been very effective, he is enjoying his football, loves being at the club, has a good relationship with me and the staff.

“It brings out the best in him. He thrives in bigger atmospheres and bigger attention, that last period when he was subject to some niggly stuff, he enjoys that.

“He played an important part, as that lone striker.”

Sunderland took the lead through Maja, the 19-year-old chesting Lee Cattermole’s volley into the Bradford net.

Ross said: “I think it was going wide actually, it was clever from Josh. I have clarified with him that he meant it!

“He is adamant he did as he does redirect it. He is clever in the penalty area.”