Sunderland has a good platform to build on after four games - PP
Phil Parkinson says his Sunderland side have given themselves a good platform to build on as they head into the first international break of the campaign.
Parkinson was left frustrated that his side were unable to take three points from a game they dominated at The Valley, but was also full of praise for their resilience in comfortably surviving the closing stages with a man down.
The Black Cats were handed a challenging start to the season, even if Charlton Athletic are likely to improve in the coming weeks as their new additions settle.
Parkinson feels being at the two-points-per-game mark, a tally that usually secures promotion over the course of a season, is a strong position from which to build.
“If you can't get all three points then you make sure you get on the coach with something, and we did that,” Parkinson said.
“Eight points from four games is a good return for us and a good platform for us to build on.
“If you look at the start of the season, Bristol Rovers at home and then Oxford, Peterborough and Charlton, they're three teams who are going to be up there around us.
“So to get up to two-pointsp e r - ga m e i s d e c e nt , eve n though we know we should be talking about another victory.”
It was another afternoon in which Sunderland’s defence produced a commanding dis
play.
Four games in, they are yet to concede from open play and Jordan Willis drew a special mention from his manager for one late header to deny Charlton from a set piece.
Reflecting on the development of his side in the early stages of the season, Parkinson said that the final third was an area in which there was clear room for improvement.
The Black Cats boss is confident his strikers will deliver, however, and says that the mentality of the group stands them in good stead.
“It was just the final moment that we lacked from the strikers at Charlton,” he said.
“Weshouldbetalkingabout anexcellentperformancefrom our two front players but they are big and strong enough to know that they are paid to put
the ball in the back of the net when the chances come. “I'm sure they'll do that. The area [for improvement] for us a team is quite clear, that final ball and today, more the finishing.
“Albeit, their goalkeeper also pulled off an absolutely world class save from Bailey Wright's header as well.
“We'll just keep working on that system and how we play, to ensure that we're as effective as we can be as a team.
“The one thing that is standing out for us is the mentality of the squad,” he added.
“There is a real resilience about us. It's a long season ahead and that fighting spirit, determination we've shown in the first weeks of the season, we've got to keep that right with us.
“When we've gone down to ten there, we had to change shape and put Grigg on the right.
“We looked to hit them on the break and we had some good moments ourselves to get the three points.
“O n c e th ey m ad e th ei r changes they had some threatening players on the pitch and we had to stand strong as a group, which we certainly did.”