Cats at crossroads, but it is not just about Jack Ross
a presence to hold it up and get them into the game that way, nor did they stretch a defence experienced but lacking athleticism.
MichaelAppletonadmitted afterthegamethathehadbeen surprised by how direct Sunderland had played.
Whether by design or through a lack of conviction and confidence in possession, it reflected badly on a Sunderland side that fired plenty of balls into the box, but with little quality and seemingly little intensity to get on the end of them.
So here we are, at a curious crossroads,11gamesintoaseasonthatfeelslikeithasalready gone deep into winter.
That in itself is easy to explain, a post-Wembley fatigue, protractedtakeoveruncertainty and a start to the season that hasbeenOKatbestbutdipped well below that at Sincil Bank.
Sunderland remain in a position where they have absolutely every chance of going on and sealing automatic promotion.
Despite this display, their position in the table remains virtually unaffected, Ipswich the only side in the top ten to win.
Ross’ future, though, is only one part of the puzzle. Just how good is this squad? It’s a subjective debate with no easy answer.
Unquestionably, it is one that should challenge for automatic promotion. With each passing game, however, it seems a stretch to say that it is clearly the best by some distance or one that should be dominant.
Evenifthereispedigree,experience and quality in their ranks, there is an obvious lack of raw pace.
There is a lack of consistency in performance that the manager must take some responsibility for but the players must, too.
Perhaps a better way to put it is that there are structural issues that will not be solved overnight.
Sunderland made some good additions in the summer window, picking up promising players at value for money. They lost some good players, too, and there was plenty of investment from the sides around them.
An excuse for this performance? Absolutely not. They are far better than this. But it underlines the need for clarity and a resolution to the uncertainty off the pitch.
Sunderlandhavenowbeen in some stage of takeover talks foranextensiveperiod.Backin March, Charlie Methven said active conversations had been happening since September.
On two occasions, now, they have been relatively well advanced.
Rosshasmetwithdifferent investors, one of who was set to instal a Director of Football whowouldhavetakenoverthe signings the Black Cats then had to go out and find.
The need to get the right deal for the club remains paramount and as such, no one would take issue with a delay so long as it ensured that the right people take charge and on the right terms.
Whileitcontinues,though, itbecomesdifficultforSunderland to drive forward as a club, whether it be in recruitment department or anywhere else.
An obvious need for discretionandcautionatboardroom level while talks continue nevertheless means Ross is increasingly isolated.
This break, though, offers theclubasawholetostepback and reflect. They’re approaching a crossroads and the manager is just one part of that.