Big gamble that produced a performance to savour
Perhaps the most encouraging thing about this win was how easily it could have gone wrong.
Sunderland risked losing, and their reward was an emphaticresultthatbreathednew life into their season.
Fifteen minutes into this contest, the scoreline was 0-0 and the Black Cats had survived two gilt-edged chances.
This, in itself, was worthy of note.
Lee Johnson had vowed before the game that even though Lincoln City were second in the table, and even though defeat would have seen the gap between the two stretch to 11 points, there would be no accepting of a draw.
Sunderland, he insisted, would go for three points.
After all, he had spent his first week in charge urging his players to be bold, and to buy in to a new philosophy that prioritises an aggressive press and a commitment to flooding the opposition box with attacking players.
The onus was on him, then, to reflect that in both his selection and his approach.
The inclusion of Jack Diamond set the tone, and right from the off the Black Cats set out to impose themselves on the game.
They controlled possession and territory, but the initial result was almost ruinous.
Lincoln caught them out and with Sunderland out of shape, they broke at speed. Brennan Johnson looked certain to score, but fired his effort wide of the far post.
Minutes later, the chance was even greater.
It came from a Sunderland attack, Max Power's low drive gathered well by Lincoln goalkeeper Alex Palmer. The quality he then produced was breathtaking, releasing Johnson with a superb early kick that once again highlighted the gapsSunderland'sattackingintent had left behind.
And here's the thing.
At some stage, possibly whenAFCWimbledonvisitthe Stadium of Light tomorrow, or possibly when the Black Cats travel to Shrewsbury Town next weekend, one of these openings will lead to a goal.
On this occasion they were indebted to Lee Burge, who slowed Johnson down enough to force him to fire wide.
Burge, on his return to the starting XI, was assured throughout and kicked superbly when under pressure. Thiswasperhapsanotherearly selection dilemma for Johnson all but solved.
What followed from that moment of fortune was the most exhilarating 30 minutes of football we have seen from the Black Cats so far this sea
son.
Diamond set the tone, driving into the box with total fearlessness. Lincoln City boss Michael Appleton and his players felt the referee had erred in pointing to the spot, but for any Black Cat it was refreshing to see a Sunderland player commit defenders and midfielders this way.
The second goal underlined the rewards possible from flooding the box.
Max Power started the move, pushing up from central midfield to outnumber the Lincoln defence on the right. When Diamond's first cross was blocked, full-back Conor McLaughlin was there to pick up the loose ball.
His cross to the back post was met by his opposite number, Callum McFadzean, and the finish from Charlie Wyke precise.
The third is best described as a goal that Sunderland simply would not have scored three weeks ago.
A swift counter, Aiden McGeady not pausing once as he carried it from deep in the Lincoln half to the edge of the area. If Diamond's first touch was imprecise, then the last was sublime.
Johnson picked the fourth goal as his favourite, noting that as the one that best represented the principles he is trying to embed in his side.
The second half performance was one of total control, and what was notable was the speed with which confidence was returning to the Sunderland ranks.
L i n c o l n w e re b e at e n , a n d th e v i s i to r s m ove d i t around with ease.
The point is not that Sunderland have solved the puzzle, and that from here the season has been transformed.
As Johnson has been at pains to point out, there will be bumps in the road and as the journey from that insipid defeattoWiganAthletictohere proved, a week is a long time in football.
Here, though, Johnson at least made good on his early promise and the confidence that will breed could be crucial.
After the game, reflecting on those early openings that fell his way, the message was one to be welcomed all over Wearside.
"There's no way in a million years I'll go into any game to draw. And we were lucky today, they had two one-on-ones in the first 10 minutes,” he said.
"But knowing we can score four should give the boys that feeling that if we do make that mistake, which we will at times because I'm asking them to be soonthefrontfoot,thenwecan go and bang in three or four."
For 90 minutes in these most uncertain and challenging of times, there was little to do but throw yourself into a boldSunderlandperformance.
Maintain that intent and this will be a journey worth watching.