Opening-day winner ‘a massive moment’
JACK Ross believes Lynden Gooch’s late winner for Sunderland against Charlton on the opening day of the season could go down as a significant moment in the club’s history.
It was a a seminal moment as more than 30,000 witnessed what felt like the rebirth of Sunderland AFC - under the new ownership of Stewart Donald.
With plenty of hard work done over the summer months in overhauling the bruised and battered club, Ross believes Gooch’s late header to seal a come-from-behind 2-1 home win was such an important moment.
Speaking ahead of the return meeting at the Valley this afternoon, he said: “It was a massive moment.
“Ultimately, it earned us three points rather than one and I suppose if it is two points separating us from achieving success or not at the end of the season then it becomes even more vital.
“Away from that, the importance of the goal in terms of the bigger picture at the club was even more important.
“We were not brilliant on the day, although I thought we were better in the second half and showed really good character, but it just felt appropriate when the winning goal went in.
“We speak a lot about the Netflix documentary but if that game was chosen and hand-picked by the production team then I am sure they would have written it that way.
“It was not just an important moment in my tenure, it was important in terms of the club in general. I am sure in years to come people will look back at certain games and certain goals and believe they were significant moments in the club’s history. I know that sounds a bit dramatic but I genuinely think it was a moment like that.
“The emotion in the stadium was incredible that day and it was probably a bit of cleansing for a lot of people.
“At the time, I did not try to underplay the significance of it because I knew how important it was - and six months down the lin it still feels just as important.”
While the goal might have provided the springboard to what has been a solid first six months for the Black Cats under Ross’ stewardship, that goal will only be recognised as a truly significant moment if Sunderland achieve their goal of promotion.
They have emerged from a busy and demanding festive period still third but just seven points off the top with two games in hand and both Luton and Portsmouth in second and first still to play at home. Reflecting on the recent run, Ross added: “If we look at the Christmas period as a whole, then we were disappointed with the result at Portsmouth.
“We were frustrated with the draw against Shrewsbury but it has been similar to the season as a whole really - it has not been perfect but there were more plusses than minuses.
“The fact we performed and won in front of 46,000,and we performed and won in front of 8,000 travelling supporters was good.
“It is not always the case things go that well.
“Not just for this club, for lots of other clubs, it is often the case on those big occasions it often falls flat.
“On both occasions, we have given those fans a result and a performance worth the effort they made to come and support us.
“So I do think it has been another small step forward.
“We are not the finished article but it does feel as though it has been a positive period for us.”