Half-time message drove Cats to victory – Wright
Bailey Wright says a simple half-time message from Phil Parkinson and his coaching staff helped prompt an impressive second half performance at Oxford United.
Sunderland struggled to create any meaningful opportunities in a moribund firsthalf, which was rarely allowed to flow thanks to a number of fouls and mis-placed passes from both sides.
But the Black Cats burst out the traps after the interval and quickly took the lead through Luke O’Nien before Lynden Gooch added a second late on – after a dominant second half which could have yielded more than two goals.
It was in stark contrast to the lifeless first-half, so what did Parkinson say at half-time to prompt the turnaround?
“It was very much sticking to our beliefs, showing our quality, winning our battles and I think you could see that,” revealed Wright.
"We had a good bit of possession, we were clinical and we were effective with decisions we made. We had runners in behind which really opened the game up and put them on the back foot and I think that changed it quite a lot. It wasn't just midfielders playing the balls and switching the play, we had Burgey sticking balls in as well.
"That's credit to him because he's got a left peg on him that can do that, and that's a weapon for us.
"I think we stuck at the things we knew would give us success in the game, we stayed compact and that always gives you a platform because we've got the quality there to go and win the game.”
While Sunderland’s first goal came in fortuitous circumstances – with a skewed Max Power effort landing at the feet of O’Nien in space – their second was a stunning individual effort.
After a week in which the Black Cats’ woes in front of goal have been firmly placed under the microscope, it was a reminder of the attacking talent the club have within their ranks. And for Wright, it was an endorsement of his belief that goals would eventually come.
"Fortunately we get to see that day in, day out and see that sort of stuff happen and see the quality,” said the centre back. Those two got the rewards with the goals and I think we had a few other chances.
"We looked solid and we created chances, we looked on song is how I would say.
“There could have been other goals and there is quality throughout the team. It's good to see players coming on and making a difference in the game.”
And while it was left for more attack-minded players to get the goals, things could have been very different had Wright’s header within the first five minutes found the net – rather than crashing off the crossbar as it did.
"I thought I had scored, I thought I'd done everything,” he admitted.
"But when you have someone like Chrissy with deliveries like that, you just have to go and attack that ball because you know the delivery is going to be spot on - and it was.
“On another day maybe it goes in, and I'm sure there'll be many more chances.
"It would have been nice to score but I'm happy with the clean sheet.”
While Oxford offered little going forward, it was a clean sheet that continued a fine run of defensive performances for Sunderland – who are yet to concede a goal from open play in their four competitive fixtures so far this campaign.
And Wright is hoping that record can continue in order to enable those in more advanced roles to flourish.
"I think as a back three, back five - with Burgey included in goal - and as a team, we pride ourselves on being solid and a tight defensive unit.
"When you come to a place like Oxford, which is a tough place to come and keep a clean sheet, you know we have the quality to score goals which we saw today.
"That's our job, we're here to give a platform for the boys to have the magic to go and do their bit. If you can do that, then you're in with a chance
in every game.”
So with a first League One win under their belts, has a weight been lifted?
"Youcouldsaythatwithour first win, but we knew it was going to come,” said Wright.
“It's an away win which is even nicer because you get on the coach now and have a nice journey back and I guess you could say there's a weight lifted off there because when you have that journey back when you lose, it's not nice and you can dwell on it.
“We've had good performances and not got the win, so it's nice to get both and now we keepbuildingandkeepgetting stronger and stronger.”
The win at the Kassam Stadium also held personal significance for Wright, as the newly-appointed vice captain took the armband for the final half an hour of the game.
"It's an honour to be vicecaptain of the group,” he admitted.
"To have had the armband on and to represent a club like Sunderland, out there with your teammates and having that responsibility, is something I never take lightly.
“It's something I always have pride in and it's something I enjoy the responsibility of. We've got great leaders in the dressing room and it's nice to be able to add to that and have that added responsibility.”
*Ex-Sunderland defender Bryan Oviedo will soon be on the move again after being told he can leave FC Copenhagen on a free.
Oviedo, one of the biggest earners at the club when Sunderland dropped into League One, left Wearside in July last year after a two-and-a-halfyear spell at the Stadium of Light.
He is now set to move on again given the level of competition for places at FC Copenhagen.
The left-back, who moved to Wearside from Everton in January 2017, returned to the Danish Superliga side seven years after departing following a two-year spell at the Parken Stadium between 2010 and 2012.