Consistency is the key for Cats, says Baldwin

JACK Baldwin believes consistency, not prettiness, is the key to League One success – which is why he is pleased to have been an ever-present since sitting out the opening game.

Goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin is the only player to have started all 21 Sunderland league game this season, a run they will be hoping he is able to maintain at Portsmouth on Saturday after suffering back spasms in the win over Bristol Rovers.

Baldwin sat out the opening game of the campaign, at home to Charlton Athletic, having only joined earlier in the week, but has not missed a minute of football since - except when he has been rested for Football League Trophy matches. Lynden Gooch, George Honeyman and Josh Maja have all started 18 times and Adam Matthews 16, and Baldwin thinks it has been a real strength, even if the Black Cats have shown they can adapt when need be.

“There was a team in this league that cracked the league and they’d only used 16 players or something,” said the former Hartlepool United and Peterborough United player.

With the depth of Sunderland’s squad, they would not want to follow that lead, but even in using 34 players in all competitions this season, there has still been a degree of solidity, particularly as the campaign has gone on. Baldwin had Reece James to his left for eight league games and Tom Flanagan to his right for 11 until injuries forced both to miss the 2-1 win over Bristol Rovers.

“It’s nice to develop those partnerships, Tom and I have a great understanding,” said Baldwin.

“The flip side is that when Glenn (Loovens) comes in, he brings that experience. He is great to learn from every day on the training pitch so for me, either way it’s good.

“The competition drives everybody on. You have Alim (Ozturk) as well, who is an excellent professional and is fighting every day (for a place).

“Rhythm is a big thing for me. I’ve had injury problems before and when I’ve come back you do feel a bit off the pace of things. To feature every week is good for me personally to stay up to the pace.”

Saturday’s win, like many this season, had to be ground out against dogged opponents. Very rarely have they breezed to victory.

“It isn’t always pretty in this league,” Baldwin stressed. “I think there were games we drew earlier in the season we felt we should have won. I think we have a better understanding of the league now and it’s just about getting the wins.

“Going into every game, I think other teams are looking at us, maybe not quite a cup final but it’s such a big game.”

Sunderland face their biggest match of the season at the weekend, when they travel to Portsmouth. The League One leaders are five points clear of the third-placed Black

Cats.

It’s nice to develop those partnerships, Tom and I have a great understanding Jack Baldwin