Johnson's Black Cats excite yet frustrate all at once
McGeady's delicate pass into the box; as was the finish from Wyke. What followed though, was a period so lacklustre that it served to underline why at this stage, Sunderland are comfortably off the pace in the race for the top two.
Yet there was no excuse for the slackness Sunderland showed as MK Dons reboundedfromtheirearlysetbackand took almost complete control of the contest.
Martin's side had comprehensively outplayed the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light earlier this season, in a game that did much to convince the club's hierarchy that a change in style and approach was becoming increasingly necessary. So the way the home side created dangerous opportunitieswithbraveswitchesofplay and strong runs from midfield should have come as no surprise.
It seemed that way, though, and when Joe Mason spurned abigchanceinsidetheboxjust after the half-hour mark, the Black Cats were fortunate that they had not been put to the sword.
Johnson's half-time message was, as he put it, 'aggressive'. The Sunderland head coach had raised a few eyebrows with his team selection but he has been insistent in his messagethathewillhavetorotatetomeetthedemandsofthe fixture schedule.
More broadly, it's also true that his 4-2-2-2 system will mean that the Black Cats always give up chances to their opposition.
Sunderland's belated response to Cameron Jerome's goal showed more of what he is looking for.
They had spurned some significant chances before the break, when their high pressing and willingness to get bodies in the box had yielded openings.
In the latter stages of the second half, they produced some superb saves from Andrew Fisher in the MK Dons goal and though there was always space and some hope for the home side, the Black Cats had the better of it. The ending was almost perfect.
AballdroppedforMcGeady in the box and just as he had done in the dying embers of thatCheckatradeTrophyfinal, the winger showed a moment ofcomposurenottotaketheeffort first time, taking a flailing defender out of the equation.
This time, Fisher made a stunning stop.
Atthispoint,itwashardnot to feel the absence of supporters and there was a broader point to consider here.
Johnson's long-term vision fortheteamistomakeitquicker, braver and more inventive.
Much of this last fifteen to twenty minutes was messy for bothteams,fullofwildanddesperate challenges.
It was also genuinely exciting to watch, and it begins to feel as if a more attacking identity is starting to take hold.
Your mind wandered to whatthenoisewouldhavebeen like when that ball dropped for McGeady, or when Jordan Jones burst past the full back towards the byline. Yet there was no mistaking that familiar sinking feeling at full time, another draw, another missed opportunity.
That Johnson’s reaction focused as much on that woeful 15minutesasanythingelse,includingtherefereeing,toldyou he felt the same frustration.
It does feel like we are moving towards a Sunderland side supporters will want to watch, but even as their was much to like, there was no hiding from somesignificantshortcomings here.