Ross happy to see Black Cats tough it out and win

Resilient Sunderland proved they are capable of grinding out results in a highly competitive division.

That’s the view of Jack Ross as Sunderland moved up to third in League One thanks to a hard-fought victory over the Shrews at New Meadow, an own goal from Omar Beckles followed up by Luke O’Nien’s first.

Sunderland were made to work hard for the win, the hosts the better side for the opening 45 minutes.

Ross made decisive substitutions with skipper George Honeyman and Lynden Gooch replacing the ineffective Josh Maja and Aiden McGeady (pictured) early in the second half.

Both had an instant impact, Gooch providing the assist for Beckles’ own goal with Gooch also setting up O’Nien’s clinical finish in the 84th minute.

Ross said: “There were bits that pleased me more than when we have played better, just because we were getting better at doing the other side of the game that you need to do in this league. We showed that again. It wasn’t an easy game.

“We toughed it out, kept a clean sheet and that was important, it gave us a platform.

“We would always show glimpses of quality, the goals scored were good quality. It helps strengthen their belief and getting that reward from playing in that manner was important.

“You enjoy each and every win, make sure the players enjoy them regardless how they come around.

“These are the ones people would have question marks over, we are showing we are capable.

“Burton was a watershed for us in that respect. Post that game, away from home, we have been a lot more resilient.”

Asked what the half-time message to his players was, Ross added: “Sometimes we have a tendency to slip back and play in a way that encourages the opposition, too many short passes in tight areas.

“We started well then gave them encouragement. We have to recognise not to do that, we defended well in that period. We knew we would make changes early.”