WANDERERS SET STANDARD FOR PARKY
New Black Cats manager faces big task
PHIL PARKINSON says it’s time for Sunderland to start following the lead of Wycombe Wanderers as his new side slumped to defeat at Adams Park.
Less than 48 hours after walking through the door at the Stadium of Light, Parkinson was confronted with a trip to one of the division’s form sides.
And the scale of the task ahead of him was laid out in no uncertain terms as Darius Charles volleyed home to hand buoyant Wycombe a deserved victory.
“It’s a disappointing performance,” said the 51-year-old, who succeeded Jack Ross after the Scot’s sacking last week.
“But we know it’s going to take a while for the players to adapt to how I want them to play and it’s my first game in charge and I’m sure things will get better.
“I obviously wanted to start with a win but you can’t always get what you want in this game. I’m sure we’ll bounce back.
“Every day with the players is vital and we’ll work to put this game behind us quickly and move on.
“We knew Wycombe would be confident. They’re where they are in the league for a reason. It’s up to us to try and get to where they are and where we want to be in this league.
“We need to focus on our performances and then the results will turn around. We’ve got a good bunch of talented players here. We just need one result to get in a decent run.”
Parkinson set Sunderland up in a 4-2-3-1 system, showing signs of a more direct approach despite finding time for just one training session before his first game in the post.
Wycombe made the early running and Joe Jacobson forced Lee Burge into a fine save, tipping his curling free-kick over the bar.
But the Chairboys broke the deadlock in the 28th minute as Charles volleyed home powerfully from a free-kick.
Conor McLaughlin struck an inviting effort wide as the Black Cats desperately pushed for an equaliser.
A toothless frontline will be chief among Parkinson’s concerns. Charlie Wyke failed to threaten in the first half before being going off injured and his replacement Will Grigg couldn’t land a shot on goal.
Wycombe keeper Ryan Allsop produced a fine, flying save right at the death to preserve the three points when he tipped tricky Aiden McGeady’s drive on to the crossbar and to safety.
Gareth Ainsworth’s side are pointing the way at the top of the table, beaten just once in 13 games and undefeated on home soil for six months.
“We deserved the win. Sunderland had one real chance where Ryan made a great save,” he said.
“The magnitude of this win and performance is phenomenal.
“There was a lot of hype around the game. But I told the boys: it’s no different to any other. Do what you do. The spirit on and off the pitch was amazing.
“We’re playing some really good football and deserve to be where we are in the table.”
He added: “We don’t get carried away with our league position. We’re taking it game by game and then we’ll talk about it in May.
“It’s a cracking performance against a very good team and I’m really proud of the boys.
“The goal was tremendous. We’re all pleased for Darius [Charles] to get off the mark this season.
“Hopefully there’s more come from him now.
“I can’t praise the players enough. There was a lot of talk in the build up and we’ve handled it perfectly to get the win.”