It’s still early days but confidence will be growing after wins like Saturday’s
Lee Johnson would have been delighted with the two performances by the academy lads in the Papa John’s Trophy, but I’d guess the Portsmouth result would still have been fresh in his mind at the weekend, and is one that he would have wanted to put right in the league a bit sooner.
On Saturday, Sunderland were faced with another tricky tie down at Gillingham. Johnson and the players would have known what was coming, with Steve Evans’ direct style not a huge secret.
Gillingham didn’t surprise and Sunderland really struggled to get a foothold in the game in the opening exchanges. Gillingham did not give Sunderland any time or space on the ball early on and on the rare occasion when a red-andwhite shirt did get on the ball there were sloppy aspects to their play.
Thankfully, before halftime, Dan Neil - Sunderland’s best player on the day – decided to bring a bit of quality to the occasion and delivered a pinpoint cross that Aiden O’Brien did well to tuck away.
The goal came at a great time and changed what would have been a dissatisfied half-time dressing room into a rejuvenated one, the players roared off by the 2000 travelling fans. The goal gave Sunderland a lift and the Portsmouth result was soon disappearing from everyone’s mind when Tom Flanagan rose bravely to score at the back post. I felt both Flanagan and Callum Doyle were very good defensively, up against a really strong and powerful Gillingham frontline.
The result wasn’t a foregone conclusion when Elliot Embleton
received his marching orders after 65 minutes for a rash challenge. It was perhaps a little harsh but when you ask the referee a question like he did, then you always leave yourself open.
There have been times this season when I have questioned Johnson’s decision to bring an extra defender on, but bringing Bailey Wright on after the sending-off gave the Sunderland team that bit more know-how and strength in the backline.
Ron-Thorben Hoffmann made an invaluable save from a looping header that for all the life of me looked like it was heading in the top corner. He is starting to show why Bayern Munich rate him highly.
Other than that header and a few little scrambles in the box, Sunderland looked very comfortable and more than deserved the three points.
As I mentioned last week, away results are going to have a big say when it comes to the end-of-season placings.
As a player, it’s difficult not to look at other challenging teams’ results when you come off the pitch. However, when you have done your own job and put your three points in the bag, it makes it that less worrying.
It’s another road trip today and another big game. Crewe Alexandra are struggling, but that shouldn’t mean they should be taken any more lightly than any other team. They lost on Saturday but they played well and deserved something from their game.
Another three points for Sunderland could see Johnson’s men at the top of the table with some games in hand. I know it’s still early days but there will be a big confidence growing with every passing week among the squad.