Johnson: Lee’s been excellent – they trust him to make the big saves

Lee Johnson praised Lee Burge for another excellent performance in the Sunderland goal as his side drew 1-1 with Lincoln City.

The Black Cats had taken the lead through a Callum McFadzean header in the first half, but Michael Appleton's side had the better of the second.

Callum Morton got his team level with a fine finish before Burge denied Cohen

Bramall and Morgan Rogers with late saves.

Johnson had dropped Burge for the 2-1 defeat to Shrewsbury Town last month, but quickly brought him back into the side and he has regularly delivered key saves in the still-unbeaten run that has followed.

“I think Lee’s been excellent," he said.

"Since that Shrewsbury game, when we felt it was the right time to leave him out, he came back in very quickly, and since then I think he’s been top drawer.

"As a goalkeeper, it’s really important that your defence trusts you, and I think at the moment, the communication is good and they trust him to make the big saves.

"Today, he’s had to make a couple of very good ones."

Johnson said it was a day where 'nothing was lost and nothing was gained' in the race for automatic promotion.

Though frustrated that his side had been unable to hold on to their lead, the head coach said credit was due to an energetic Lincoln side, who he insists are still firmly in the race for automatic promotion.

"There's too many games left and there's no way you can discount Lincoln," he said.

“If they have players fit they'll be a dangerous side against anyone.

“I thought it was a good advert for League One.

"We vary it in the way we play, and they were very slick and quick on the counter and caused us problems.

"If we made a mistake, often they capitalised.

"You’ve got to make minimal mistakes against the top-six teams, and unfortunately that was probably the bit – two or three occasions they got good breaks on from our poor mistakes and unforced errors.

"They scored a very good goal, but unfortunately we got rolled in the box."

Sunderland are third in the table, five points behind leaders Hull City, with two games in hand.