Six big challenges facing underpressure Sunderland boss Ross
Pressure is mounting at Sunderland.
Back-to-back 1-1 draws in League One this week has seen frustration spill over into anger on the terraces.
Jack Ross felt the brunt of it at the University of Bolton stadium as Sunderland struggled against the division’ s basement side, without a win all season. Here’s what we learned from the Bolton draw and the six big challenges facing under-fire Ross ahead of a pivotal week.
Patience is thin. Earlier this season Sunderland won five games on the spin but one defeat at Peterborough United led to a fortnight of scrutiny, pressure and focus on Jack Ross during the international break.
That’s the way this campaign will be, with pressure to win promotion back to the Championship intense. There is no hiding place. Promotion is a must.
Sunderland bounced back with a 3-1 win at Accrington Stanley, not the best the team has played but most would settle for a comfortable away win most weeks. Again, there was criticism and pressure because Sunderland didn’t score more goals and had conceded again, the overall performance not deemed up to standards. That has then been compounded by backto-back 1-1 draws at home to Rotherham United, following Aide nMcG ea dy’ s penalty miss and the bang average display at Bolton.
Can Ross win back the
support? With 66 minutes on the clock and Sunderland 1-0 down, the patience of some Sunderland supporters snapped. Chris Maguire, who hadn’t been spectacular by any means, withdrawn, Charlie Wyke on. From the away end chants of ‘You don’t know what you’ re doing’ could be clearly heard, chants aimed at Ross.
The Bolton fans, sensing an opportunity, joined in with chants of ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning’ to which a number of the Sunderlandsupport also joined in.
It was relatively brief. But it happened. And when the away support turns on you, the fans who see the team week in, week out, then you’ re in trouble. Ross is under-fire and pressure is mounting. A takeover of the club is yet to be complete but is thought to be imminent. The stakes are high.
Sunderland face Sheffield United on Wednesday in the Carabao Cup before a huge home game against MK D ons next Saturday. This week could prove pivotal for Ross.
Most fans won't be overly concerned with the League Cup but victory next Saturday is a must and Sunderland must show a huge improvement on recent performances.
Ross knows how important this week is, post-match at Bolton he said: “In my opinion we're in a unique situation at this club in this league but we've got to deal with it.
“There' s got to be a collectivewant to deal with it together. We've had a good chat and I believe there is.
“But like everything, the easy part is saying it, the toughest part is doing it.” Full-back problems coming back to bite: Denver Hume again struggled. Excitingwinger T hi baud V er lin den had the better of him all half. The academy graduate hauled off at the break, the second time this season.
There is a lot of pressure on Laurens De Bock to impress when he finally gets up to speed. Conor McLaughlin replaced Hume but truth be told he wasn’t much better. Jury firmly out on him.
It all meant Luke O’Nien, who started the Rotherham game up front, was then shiftedback to right-back at Bolton before ending the game playing left-back.
Sunderland must solve clean sheet woes: It was a woeful goal to concede. Con or McLaughlin giving away the free-kick.
The set piece delivered to the back post, Will Buckley headed it back across and Jack Hobbs, pretty much by himself, hooked it home. Too easy. Far too easy. Bolton couldn’t believe their luck.
Sunderland are yet to keep a clean sheet and they don’t look like doing so.
How to get Will Grigg firing?: Phil Smith’s player ratings summed it up: ‘Missed a big opening in the first half and struggled to hold the ball up and bring team-mates into play. Improved after Bolton’s goal but struggled to make a significant impression.’
That big openings awGrigg send a free header wide of the post. Not the first time he has done that this season. With Marc McNulty missing with a hamstring injury, Grigg got the nod. Again he failed to perform.
Sunderland are too heavily reliant on Aide nMcG ea dy and it’ s no exaggeration to say Ross’ future at the club could hinge on how quickly G rig gr ed is covers his goalscoring touch.
Problems at both ends of the pitch and too many players
not performing: Can’t keep a clean sheet and Sunderland’ s forward players have been wasteful in their last two games, all heaping the pressure on.
Granted he is a defender but Tom Flanagan had three good openings from headers, two sent wide, one hit the crossbar. McGeady saw an effort brilliantly saved.
Sunderland had the chances but they didn’t take them, a recipe for disaster when you can’t keep a clean sheet at the other end. Coupled with too many players enduring a bad day at the office. A big week lies in store.
Pressure is mounting at Sunderland. A big week lies in store.