Sunderland put the boot in when we wear the right studs, says LJ
Lee Johnson hopes that Sunderland's 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town on Saturday demonstrates the strides his young side are making this season.
The Black Cats struggled to contain a physical opponent through the first half at Portman Road at the weekend, with the home side having all the significant chances and deservedly going ahead in stoppage time.
The pattern of the game had some echoes with the heavy defeat at Rotherham United earlier this season.
But a much-improved display in the second half by Sunderland earned a point, thanks to Nathan Broadhead's equaliser.
As well as a tactical switch, Johnson also revealed that a change of footwear had been key to the outcome.
"With the injuries we've had, seven unbeaten is not a bad run," Johnson said.
"We don't like draws but if we win the next one, which we'll endeavour to do, it becomes a good draw away at Ipswich.
"We're all learning and Callum Doyle is a really good example of that today.
"I thought in the first half he was a bit sloppy, and in the second I thought he was outstanding.
"It's just tiny little things, like in the first half his stoods were too short.
"We must have had five players slip in the first half, and I made them change to
longer studs for the second half.
"It's just these little things that can sometimes happen, but we turned the tide.
"We played Morecambe a couple of weeks ago and not one kick from the goalkeeper cleared the halfway line, and today almost every single one was long.
"I asked the players about it at the end and the pitch was quite sludgey on top, they weren't quite confident in their footing.
"But we've got to be better, better from throw-ins, better in playing out, and we should be able to be smart enough to find the spare player.
"The only frustration for me was in that second half we just went a little bit long."
The draw at Ipswich left Sunderland third in League One, four points behind league leaders Rotherham United.
Leam Richardson’s Wigan Athletic are in second place, but have played one game fewer than both Sunderland and Rotherham.