Promotion push hit by late leveller
‘DISAPPOINTMENT’ doesn’t quite cut it.
Watching Sunderland throw away two points against 10-man Accrington Stanley late in a game which they should have won was more than disappointing.
It was a major blow to the Black Cats’ automatic promotion hopes at the end of a week that Lee Johnson and his players would rather forget – but one which must remain seared in their memory if they to avoid repeating the same old mistakes.
Three times in the space of a week Sunderland have failed to take opportunities to return to the top of the League One table.
At Wycombe last weekend, an otherwise excellent performance was marred by conceding an injury-time set-piece equaliser which cost Sunderland top spot.
On Tuesday, they only needed a draw against lowly Lincoln in order to reach the summit, yet contrived to lose as Chris Maguire scored a hat-trick on his Wearside return.
And now another draw, when they were five minutes away from the victory that would have seen them go top.
Eight days. Three games. Two points. When Johnson spoke to the media after the game at the Wham Stadium, his frustration was obvious. He spoke about the need to put in ‘95-minute performances’, a reference to the Accrington and Wycombe games when late goals cost them.
And, just as in midweek, he was left bemoaning another ‘individual error’ from a Sunderland corner which ended up with the opposition breaking downfield to score.
Against Lincoln it was Lynden Gooch’s air-shot which sparked the counter-attack; against Accrington it was Tom Flanagan’s missed clearance that caused the problem.
These are the kind of mistakes a manager simply cannot prepare for. There are some things players must work out for themselves.
Substitute Aiden O’Brien’s deflected strike just after half-time had put Sunderland on course for victory, and when Accrington defender Ross Sykes was sent off for a second booking 15 minutes from time, all they had to do was manage the game.
But when their corner broke down, Flanagan missed home keeper Toby Savin’s long clearance and that allowed Matt Butcher to tee up Mitch Clark for the equaliser.
Sunderland, collectively and as individuals, have to learn from their mistakes quickly because they are conceding too many goals – seven in the last week alone.
The Black Cats have to get back to keeping clean sheets, because they provide the platform for promotion.
One defeat in 12 league games dating back to mid-November is not a bad record but when you are fighting for automatic promotion, every dropped point is critical.
The 5-0 demolition of Sheffield Wednesday that saw Sunderland go into the New Year as League One leaders has been followed by a winless start to 2022.
Yes, they are still second in the table, just a point behind leaders Wycombe having played the same number of games.
But third-placed Rotherham are only a single point behind them with two games in hand, while fourth-placed Wigan present an even greater threat, three points behind Sunderland but with five matches in hand.
The Black Cats have battled on despite a lengthy list of absentees due to Covid and injuries and appear to be over the worst of it, with Thorben Hoffmann, Leon Dajaku and Bailey Wright all back on Saturday.
Carl Winchester will be return from suspension next weekend, and Corry Evans should also be fit again after suffering a concussion at Wycombe.
There is also a chance that new recruits could be added, although Johnson seemed to suggest that the bulk of their business may have to wait until nearer the end of the transfer window. Bringing in fresh blood for the second half of the season is essential.
With 19 games remaining, Sunderland are well-placed but it would be unforgiveable to let their challenge fade as a result of failing to sign reinforcements.
But they cannot afford any more weeks like this one if they are to maintain their automatic promotion push.