Parkinson’s gamble pays off as momentum moves back to Cats

Phil Parkinson rolled the dice with the game goalless, bringing Kyle Lafferty on to play alongside Charlie Wyke rather than replacing him in the team.

And it paid off, the pair both involved in Chris Maguire’s goal.

The forward produced a stunning drive from the edge of the area past Tomas Holy to seal a big three points.

Reflecting on his decision to bring Lafferty on alongside Wyke – with Denver Hume departing – Parkinson said: “It was a difficult call because I felt the shape of the team was working well and we were causing a lot of problems.

“We looked like the team that was going to win.

“I just felt at the time with 10, 12 minutes to go that Lafferty's physicality up there with Charlie and Chris in behind them might just give them something else to think about.

“Sometimes they work for you, sometimes they don't.”

He added: “On Saturday it worked and Kyle was a little bit unlucky not to start the game.

“Charlie has had a bad shoulder this week.

“He trained a bit on

Thursday and Friday but came in desperate to play and that's the kind of player we need.

“Laffers was in the team shape Friday, bits of it, because I wasn't sure what we were going to do.

“But he showed the right attitude and gave us that lift.”

Parkinson added: “To go against a team who are tired and suddenly throw Lafferty on up front, is a great weapon to have from the bench.”

The momentum’s now back with Sunderland after what Parkinson hopes will just be a blip at Portsmouth.

He added: “Without a doubt.

“We've been on a good run, we had a blip last week, but when you have those you have to respond.

“I've been pleased with the way the lads have been this week because there's been no excuse-making, honest, let's get back on it.

“We know what we've got to do and where we were before in terms of the physical output of the team.

“I thought we ran them into the ground in the second half.”