Sunderland are right back in the automatic promotion race in League One. Saturday’s victory away at Oxford United took the Black Cats to within three points of top spot. Just one defeat in 13 games and seven clean sheets in the last eight has seen Phil Parkinson’s side go from mid-table to the brink of an automatic promotion place. It’s form like this that will see Sunderland promoted.
The Best Defence in League One Should Get Sunderland Promotion
Tactics Switch a Masterstroke
This calendar year has seen Sunderland go from a soft touch for opposition strikers to almost impregnable. A switch to three central defenders and two wing-backs has made all the difference to the Black Cats’ campaign. Pre-Christmas, mid-table obscurity seemed the best-case scenario. Now, promotion is a real possibility.
Best Defence in the League
Phil Parkinson has made his Sunderland team extremely hard to beat. After securing their seventh clean sheet in eight games against Oxford, the Black Cats now have the title of best defence in League One. Just 26 goals have been conceded this season. Twenty-two of those were conceded before the new year.
Defend as a Team
Sunderland’s back five and goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin must take a lot of the credit for the up-turn in form and results. However, also add Phil Parkinson, his staff and the rest of the players on the field. Sunderland now not only attack as a team – central defender Jordan Willis can often be seen marauding down the right-wing – but they also defend as a team.
Forward Charlie Wyke, although not prolific, cannot be faulted for his work rate, closing down and pressing opposition defenders. Every midfielder also has a job to do in helping their defence. Sunderland earlier this season looked a team of individuals. Now they look like a real team.
Strength in Depth
Phil Parkinson has stuck, where possible, with a consistent line-up. His preferred three central defenders were Willis, Bailey Wright and Joel Lynch. However, Lynch was injured against Portsmouth and in came Northern Ireland international Tom Flanagan. Three victories and three clean sheets have followed. Alim Ozturk was unlucky to be dropped in favour of new signing Wright, but with the Australian now injured, Ozturk should regain the place he believes he should never have lost.
At wing-back, fan favourite Luke O’Nien and local lad Denver Hume have made the positions their own. Should either happen to be injured or suspended, Connor McLaughlin and Wales international Declan John are waiting for their chance.
Jordan Willis on Recent Form
Defender Willis, who has been in exceptional form of late, believes recent form is a credit to everyone. He told the Sunderland Echo: “No matter who is playing, we know how each other plays and we’ve built good bonds with each other. You’re still getting the same result out of us no matter who is playing.
“We’re really organised out of possession now, everyone knows their role. Limiting teams to minimal chances is key and we’re managing to do that.
“I think it is just the graft [in training] and then just the mentality throughout the whole team.
“Everyone wants to put their body on the line, even from set-pieces, you see strikers and midfielders coming back and throwing themselves in front of the ball. It’s credit to everyone that we’ve got that mentality.”
Thirteen Games to Go and Current Form Should See Sunderland Promoted
It’s now the business end of the season – 13 games to go and every team, no matter what league position they are in, will be doing everything they can to gain as many points as possible.
Sunderland have hit form at the right time and have made teams around them not only take notice, but begin to fear them. If the Black Cats can maintain their current form, they will surely make a return to the Championship. Two home games in quick succession are coming up. Who would bet against Parkinson’s men winning both and possibly being top of the table in just over a weeks time? Confidence is high now but if top of the table was achieved, Sunderland could be unstoppable.
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