Boss full of praise for tough guy Gooch
LEE Johnson hailed Lynden Gooch as a ‘tough cookie’ after Sunderland’s academy product made up for his weekend error to provide two assists in the 5-0 win against Morecambe.
Gooch was at fault in the build-up to Oxford’s goal at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, which allowed the U’s to claim a point at the Stadium of Light.
However, the 25-year-old responded with a fine performance at left-back against Morecambe and laid on the first two goals for Ross Stewart and Nathan Broadhead to set the Black Cats on their way to an emphatic victory.
“Really encouraging,” head coach Johnson said of Gooch’s performance.
“Goochy is another one we have had to support.
“He made the mistake on Saturday and knew he had made the mistake and held his hands up afterwards.
“The lads then got around him and so did we.
“He would have had a tough weekend but on Monday we gave him a bit of a hug, put our arms round him and got him to go again on Tuesday.
“It is nice Goochy claimed the two assists. He fully deserved that.
“He is a tough cookie and someone who understands the club.
“He has that resilience to him and knows he can be a hero as quickly as he was a zero.”
Sunderland made a fast start against Morecambe with those first two goals coming inside the opening 20 minutes, which put them in a commanding position early in the game.
Broadhead added another goal in the second period, Alex Pritchard and Leon Dajaku also on target after half time.
Johnson added: “Right from the start you could feel the vibe.
“It was really positive from the start.
“We started well and it has been like that.
“I was not expecting it because it was such a cold night and a few less fans than normal were there because of the weather.
“I am really pleased for the fans who turned up, we gave them a five-star show.”