Hatters are a sign of testing times to come
THIS was the day League One reality dawned on Sunderland.
The euphoria of last weekend’s last-minute opening-day win over Charlton Athletic in front of a crowd of more than 30,000 at the Stadium of Light was not a true reflection of what lies ahead - at best it was only half the story.
Instead the Black Cats’ trip to Luton Town’s quirky Kenilworth Road home, with its mish-mash of stands, 10,000 capacity and Eric Morecambe Lounge, is a glimpse of what awaits away from Wearside this season.
Luton’s ground is frozen in time, changing little - if at all - since Sunderland last visited in 2007 - in fact, the absence of a plastic pitch is the only clue it is no longer 1987.
Yet it was not just the surroundings which brought Sunderland down to earth, it was the spectacle.
Newly-promoted Luton are the kind of organised, physical, set-piece specialists Sunderland will have to break down on a weekly basis if they are to climb out of the third tier at the first attempt.
Technical ability – something which Sunderland’s players have in abundance – alone will not be enough.
That technique came to the fore on the stroke of half-time when the ever-dangerous Lynden Gooch unlocked the Luton defence and set up Josh Maja, who put Sunderland ahead with his second goal in as many games.
However, all it took was one set-piece midway through the second half, one lapse in concentration at a corner, for Matty Pearson to poke home an equaliser and deny the Black Cats all three points.
On balance, Luton probably deserved a draw but for Sunderland there was still a feeling of disappointment at letting a lead slip – although Chris Maguire almost retrieved the situation when he rattled the crossbar in the final 20 minutes.
Manager Jack Ross made no attempt to hide his disappointment at dropping two points but there were positives for him to take.
Even though his side’s 100 per cent record has gone, they remain unbeaten.
Four points from a possible six is a decent, if unspectacular, return.
Debutants Jack Baldwin and Max Power both impressed, the former looking solid alongside the experienced Glenn Loovens in central defence while the latter brought extra energy to midfield.
Maja’s strike ensured Sunderland did not dry up in front of goal, even though their lack of depth in attacking positions is painfully apparent. Ross recognises that and is determined to bring in another frontman on loan - possibly as soon as early this week. With summer buy Charlie Wyke still a week or two away from full fitness, and with Sunderland due to face Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup on Thursday before resuming their league campaign at home to Scunthorpe United next Sunday, another striker to share the load with Maja cannot arrive soon enough.
Jack Ross made no attempt to hide his disappointment but there were positives for him to take James Hunter