Sunderland suffered their fourth league defeat of the season at Fleetwood Town. Although they have only lost four times, 19 draws have seen the Black Cats drop too many points this season. They now must re-group and pick themselves up, not only for the final game of the season but for the rigours and the stresses of the Leauge One play-offs.
Sunderland Must Pick Themselves Up for Play-Offs
Disappointing Defeat
Manager Jack Ross made three changes for the game at Fleetwood. Aiden McGeady was rested as he recovers from a broken foot. Charlie Wyke was also rested and George Honeyman was dropped to the bench. In came Chris Maguire, Lynden Gooch and Will Grigg.
The changes were sensible and appeared to be making the manager’s decision the correct one. Sunderland controlled the first half and led 1-0 at half-time. The home side gradually came into the game and equalised midway through the second half. In a game the Black Cats had to win to keep their hopes of automatic promotion alive, a 95th-minute winner shattered their hopes.
Same Old Story
It really was a typical Sunderland performance. Like many games this season, they played well, taken the lead and created chances to score several more. As fans have seen many times, their team were unable to kill the opposition off.
Fleetwood, like several before them, took advantage of Sunderland’s lack of conviction in the final third and equalised. The Black Cats pushed for the winner they desperately needed. A point was no good, only three would do. In the end, they finished with neither.
Attention Turns to the Play-Offs
Sunderland have one game remaining in the league this season, away at Southend United. The result will determine where they will finish. Fans would prefer to avoid Portsmouth whom they have failed to beat three times this season and in-form Charlton Athletic.
A victory at Southend could mean a third-placed finish. This would then mean a play-off semi-final against either Doncaster Rovers or Peterborough United. Southend, however, are in a relegation battle and need a positive result against the Black Cats.
Ross Must Pick his Team up
Jack Ross now has a difficult job to do. After the disappointment of failing to beat Peterborough, Portsmouth and Fleetwood in the last three games, the players’ heads will be down. Points in these games could have seen the club back in the Championship next season.
All thoughts of the past several games must be put to one side. Jack Ross and his team can still earn promotion. They will have to do it the difficult way, that is the Sunderland way after all.
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