NEW-LOOK FORMATION PAYS OFF IN STYLE – ROSS
Jack Ross was delighted his Sunderland side came through a big test against promotion rivals Barnsley and pleased his new-look formation paid off.
Aiden McGeady from the spot, Josh Maja’s stunning strike and Lynden Gooch’s fine effort saw Sunderland storm into a 3-0 lead after just 32 minutes.
A Kieffer Moore brace either side of half-time then pegged Sunderland back before substitute Luke O’Nien sealed the win seven minutes from time.
Sunderland remain second, four points off leaders Portsmouth who beat Walsall.
Sunderland started with a new-look fluid 4-3-1-2 system with Maja and Chris Maguire leading the attack.
A delighted Ross said: “It was a good match against a good team, a team that I would expect to be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. They showed their strengths and we showed how good we are.
“We set up in a way that I knew it would lend itself to that game, there was a bit of risk involved because you have to back yourself, we did come out the other side.
“It was similar to when Peterborough came here. Under the lights here, in midweek, it has a special feel to it. It was a big test for both sides.
“To come through it in the manner we did, it just strengthens the belief that we have, it does every time we win a game.
“I don’t differentiate between the wins, I get as much satisfaction from any of the wins we have had this season. I recognise the calibre of the opposition, they have some really good individual players too.
“The belief that grows from beating that calibre of opposition is the big thing.
“That opening 35 minutes is as good as we’ve been this season. Our resilience is growing. I was enjoying it at 3-0, not so much at 3-2 but the last 30 seconds were good!”
On his new system, Ross added: “There is a balance between what you can do to hurt them and what they can do to hurt you, we played Aiden in a more central position.
“It allowed him to be fairly advanced. We gave up a bit defensively but we backed ourselves to be creative. In the first 35 minutes we showed that.”
Maja’s goal was the pick of the bunch. The striker controlled Adam Matthews’ superb pass before turning and firing home from the edge of the area, his 11th in League One and 12th overall.
The striker went off midway through the second half with a shoulder problem but Ross said he was going to make the sub anyway.
He added: “I was going to make the change anyway, he has had a couple of knocks to his shoulder recently. I don’t think it is anything too serious.
“At the time I thought the goal was really good and the staff have watched it again said it was really, really good.
“He will be disappointed as he could have had a hattrick in the opening period, two headers he thinks he should score.
“The goal is him in a nutshell, that type of finish.”
O’Nien’s influence is growing within this Sunderland side and he capped a cameo from the bench with the fourth late on. It proved a decisive goal and killed off any remaining Barnsley threat.
Ross added: “I don’t see him as an impact sub, far from it. There are areas to improve on but he has a brilliant attitude and quality and he is a very good finisher, his desire to get in the box from the midfield position.
“I’m really pleased for him that he is making that contribution, he is a happy young man.”