Victory over Ipswich must be built upon
If you had said on Boxing Day that you thought Sunderland would beat Ipswich to go above them in February then no one would have believed you.
You would have probably have had your season ticket taken away for being stupid. And you probably would have been glad. But here we are, Sunderland have beaten, and have gone above, Ipswich in February.
The biggest and probably the best win of the season, was a typical game of two halves but Sunderland made sure their half counted.
Chris Maguire absolutely lives for moments like that. Pinging it in the bottom corner before sliding and ruining a lot of the pitch towards the North East Corner.
A man made for the big occasion, and the key to Sunderland winning more games against the teams at the top of the league.
See also – Kyle Lafferty. A man very much in the same, “If you didn’t play for us I would hate you” category as Maguire, and I absolutely love it. You just know they have opposition fans absolutely seething with their mere presence.
The win , followed up correctly on Tuesday against Rochdale, could be a seminal moment in the season.
It will continue to work in cycles, the League One form, but Ipswich looked like a team that have ran out of steam. Similar, but obviously earlier in the season than the 2018/19 Sunderland team. Nothing seemed to really work for them, Norwood was a threat but Will Keane to be honest was just getting in the way.
The next three games, if Sunderland can pick up seven points, then automatic promotion is very much within grasp. Beat Rochdale, and one of Oxford or Coventry away, and Phil Parkinson may well be driving his coach to the Championship.
Rotation could be key – the team have more or less been unchanged throughout the good run, and some fresh legs with the big games upcoming could make the difference. I would be looking to make the changes against Rochdale, and then revert back for the Oxford game next weekend.
Keep everyone fresh and also on their toes, and also recall Grigg to the squad. And don’t bring Connor McLaughlin on again.
There you have it. I’ll be happily eating a big slice of humble pie, with various types of egg on my face come May. I hope.