Cats suffer a frustrating setback with home defeat
SUNDERLAND 1 CHARLTON ATH 2
There was no doubt that this felt like a day where the pendulum swung.
As Hull City and Peterborough United were cantering into comfortable leads, Sunderland were being presented with another stern test on their home turf.
Through a combination of fine goalkeeping, wasteful crossing and slack set-piece defending, they came up short.
One point from six has checked their momentum and though they remain firmly in the race for the top two, they are now undoubtedly the outside bet. In truth, that says less about this result and more about the frustrating lack of consistency earlier this season.
Though their position in the table eight days ago means there is inevitable frustration on Wearside right now, it's a position you would have embraced with real enthusiasm at the turn of the year, when the gap to the play-off positions was four points.
A number of things were true on this most frustrating of afternoons. Sunderland for large parts played some good football. On balance of play, they probably deserved something from the game. Yet Sunderland were also unquestionably the architects of their own downfall. It was a major opportunity missed and in truth, Charlton could have scored more.
Lee Johnson afterwards spoke of the 'fundamentals' that had been missing from his side' s performance. Though Johnson was adam ant foul play was involved as Jake Forster-Caskey floated a corner into the box, there were too many errors from his own team for him to press the point too firmly. A header from Ryan Inniss should have been cleared from danger on at least two occasions, but Sunderland instead left themselves needing to battle back from ago al down for the third game in a row.
That was always going to catch up with the Black Cats eventually.
If that goal was frustrating, then the second was infuriating. It was this goal that clearly had riled Johnson the most, too. His side were pushing for an equaliser and were comfortably in the ascendancy when they switched off from a throw in.
Alex Gilbey sliced his first attempt as he broke into the box unmarked, but was still able to set himself again before scoring.
There will be pause for thought for Johnson and his staff here, given that Charlton Athletic boss Nigel Adkins said post-match that his team had targeted Sunderland's left flank from throw-ins. Despite their slackness at the back, Sunderland gave themselves ample opportunity to get something from the game and with this in mind that Johnson was clearly eager to maintain some perspective after the game.
At both ends of the pitch the Black Cats faltered, but it is in these aspects that by and large they have excelled of late.
For starters, their excellent start to the game should have yielded at least one goal. Charlton did have their moments, playing direct to the excellent Jayden Stockley, but it was the home side who carved open the best chances.
Charlie Wyke went close with a first-time volley after an excellent team move, before drawing a strong save from Amos after pinching the ball from Darren Pratley in midfield.
Charlton threatened on the break, particularly through the lively Diallang Jaiyesimi, but Sunderland played at a good tempo and stretched their opponent regularly.
Johnson’s frustration was that uncharacteristically, they too often failed to find the quality in that final ball.
Johnson was eager to stress that for all there was much to improve, he would be just as keen to stress the elements of the play which have underpinned what remains a very good spell of results.
He no doubt has questions to ponder in the days ahead.
The return of more natural defensive options will leave him with big decisions to make. Dion Sanderson and Luke O'Nien have been nothing short of outstanding over the last two months, but Stock ley' s experience told here and it will be tempting, when fit, to call on the leadership of Bailey Wright.
At right-back too, the return of Conor McLaughlin will leave the head coach weighing up whether the time has come to move Max Power back into midfield.
Ultimately, the deflation felt in the aftermath of this defeat perhaps summed up the slightly strange dynamics at play for Johnson and his side at the moment.
They have taken major steps forward in recent months, the stabilising of the club off the pitch matched by significantly improved returns on it. That defeat stings so much is in its own way testament to both the improved expectations and the increased engagement the city is feeling.
Yet such has been their excellence, this has now come to feel like an opportunity to escape League One that cannot be passed up.
Sunderland still have every chance of reaching the top two, even if their margin for error is now absolutely minimal.
A quick reaction is needed and though some tinkering is inevitable, even in defeat the signs of progress are clear.