Micky, Jordan and Steve – the bits you might have missed...
Thousands of Sunderland fans will have watched the draw against Gillingham via live streams – but there are always those rare few moments that the cameras don’t capture.
Here, we take a look at some of the moments you might have missed from the League One stalemate – from a new signing in the stands to a worrying trend…
A RETURNING HERO
At the end of a week which was notable for Sunderland welcoming some exciting new faces, there was an old one in the stands at the Stadium of Light.
Academy graduate Micky Gray was back on familiar turf as he covered the game for Sky Sports.
The former full-back was seen pre-match soaking it up in the Stadium of Light and taking s el fi esp itchs ideas he returned to his former club.
Gray was trying to assemble a consortium to mount a takeover bid for the club last summer, before Kyril LouisDreyfus agreed terms with Stewart Donald, and is instead now focusing on his media work.
THE NEW SIGNING IN THE STANDS
The signing of Jordan Jones on Friday evening certainly captured the imagination of the Sunderland faithful, but EFL deadlines meant the wing er wasn’t able to play against the Gills.
He was, however, in attendance on Wear side and took in the game from the stands.
Jones also spoke at length with KristjaanS peak man pre match, with the duo chatting in front of the home dugout after what was likely a busy few days for the Sunderland sporting director.
The Rangers loanee could be in line for a debut at MK Dons on Tuesday evening.
TWO MOMENTS OF QUALITY
In a game that didn’ t deliver much in terms of real quality, two of the best moments of the game came from Grant Leadbitter.
The midfielder has established himself as a key player under Lee Johnson and put in another eye-catching performance against Gillingham – and delivered crucial moments at both ends.
It was, of course, Leadbitter who netted Sunderland’s second of the afternoon as he reacted quickly to nod the ball over the line after Jack Bonham had pushed his penalty onto the post.
But in the excitement of retaking the lead, it could have been easy to overlook the pass that led to the penalty.
While it was ultimately AidenMcG ea dy who drew the foul to win the spot-kick, it was a fine ball from Lead bitter which set him free. The midfielder executed a brilliant one-touch through-ball to send the wingerinto the box, showcasing the precision and vision that can set him apart at this leve.
Then at the other end, he managed to hook the ball away from John A kind ea she looked set to net for Gillingham.
It looked to be the interventionthat sealed Sunderland the three points, before that late Jordan Graham suck er-punch.
But nonetheless, it was a moment of class from Lead bitter, and similar such moment sat both ends of the pitch could help Sunderland in those scrappy games that undoubtedly await between now and May.
STEVE EVANS ON THE TOUCHLINE
Ah, Steve Evans.
While he, sadly, wasn’t wearing the Gillingham branded blue and white mittens that caught the eye last season, he was as colourful a character as ever on the touch line.
After emerging from the tunnel prior to the first half and having to be collared by a steward after heading towards the home dugout, it was actuallya fairly subdued opening to the game by Evans’ standards.
He was clearly unhappy with the decision to award Sunderland a late first-half penalty – blasting the decision as ‘shocking’ in his post-match interview–but it was only reallytowards the latter stages of the game where tempers really started to fray on the touch line.
After a series of decisions
went against his side, Evans was asked to sit down by the officials amid some verbal jousting between the Gills’ bench and some of the Sunderland players on the field.
He was ultimately left pleased though, and wasn’t shy in celebrating his side’s late leveller.
THELEFT-SIDEDDILEMMA
Johnson kept faith with Call umMcF adze an at left-back for the game and it was notable – in the first-half in particular – that Gillingham were focusing a great number of their attacks down their right flank.
McFadzean has at times looked shaky and this isn’t the first time we’ve seen teams try to focus their play down the left side, and it appears it is starting to be perceived as a weakness in the Black Cats’ side.
In Gillingham’s case, this may have been more to do with the fact that the lively and effective Graham was playing on the right in the opening half, but the left-back area is one in which we may see changes during the coming weeks.
With Jake Vokins now in the building, we may see McFadzean drop out of the side – and it will be interesting to see if that causes a change in tact from opposition teams who were planning to target Sunderland’s left.
A WORRYING TREND CONTINUES
Victory over the Gills could have seen the Black Cats registerthree win son the bounce in League One.
That’s a feat they haven’t managed once during the current campaign.
While Sunderland have had some promising spells in the season, they are yet to piece together three straight league victories during the campaign.
That’s a worrying trend, and one which will need to be changed if Johnson’s side are to build momentum.