Cats’ darkest days could be still to come
When does a blip start to become a problem? On Saturday, for the third successive game, Sunderland squandered the chance to take a step closer to automatic promotion.
We were less than 60 seconds away from closing the gap to Rotherham to a single point when Mikael Mandron silenced his former stomping ground.
On reflection, a draw was a fair result.
Gillingham gave as good as they got.
In fact, had it not been for Jon McLaughlin, the Gills would have taken all three points. To me, that’s worrying. Not because it’s a one off, but because that’s the third time in just over a week where there’s been little attacking fluidity; little defensive pressure; little to say we’re heading for the top two.
And really, Phil Parkinson hasn’t proved we’d even get the chance to rectify last year’s harrowing Wembley defeat if we were resigned to the play-offs again.
Against the top seven teams, we’ve taken 11 points from a possible 30 so far this year.
Two wins, five draws and three defeats.
It’s all very well comparing our run-in and thinking we have it easier than the rest.
But when it comes to facing sides like Gillingham at home, if the full-time whistle comes and we haven’t taken all three points, the theory means nothing.
It might not be time to hit the panic button just yet.
But viewing Rotherham United as a side we can pip to the post is exactly what Portsmouth, Fleetwood Town and Wycombe Wanderers are doing to us right now.
After Mandron’s late equaliser, fourth and eighth are now only separated on goal difference.
Yet we’ve played a game more than most and have the worst recent record.
We have to be aware of the facts.
If those behind us win their games in hand, we go eighth.
Saying that, I’d be surprised if we don’t make the play-offs.
But there’s a very real possibility we won’t. That can’t be ignored. And if we continue the way we’re going – if Parkinson continues to fight against change – our darkest days could yet be to come.