Phil Parkinson’s Sunderland welcomed Coventry City to the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon. After yet another poor performance, the Black Cats were fortunate to draw the game 1-1. Coventry were the better team for much of the game as Sunderland struggled to create chances. It was a game where Phil Parkinson and his team can have no excuses from a game where they could have easily have been beaten.
Phil Parkinson’s Sunderland Team Can Have No Excuses After Another Poor Performance
Don’t Shoot, Don’t Score, Can’t Win
Once again the Black Cats struggled in front of goal. Today, Phil Parkinson’s men had just four shots on goal. Three on target and one off-target. Will Grigg looks a shadow of his former self, and others failed to muster anything that would trouble the Coventry goalkeeper, who, especially in the first-half was a virtual spectator. If Sunderland are to find their way back into the promotion race, they must find a way of creating more shots on goal. If they continue as they have been during the past several games, Sunderland will not only lose pace with the automatic promotion places but the play-off places too.
Poor Creativity and General Passing
One part of Sunderland’s game which Phil Parkinson has bemoaned about since taking charge is the lack of creativity and quality in the team. On paper, Sunderland should have enough creativity to cause any team in the division problems. However, several players who the manager and fans would look too, are not delivering.
Aiden McGeady has not shown the form from last season which saw him terrorising defences with his skill, creativity and goals. This season, it appears that defences have found a way to stop him. On many occasions, the opposition have doubled up on the winger whenever he has had the ball. McGeady and Sunderland as yet have failed to find an answer to this. His habit of slowing the game down to a walking pace in an attempt to beat his men have lost the lost team vital momentum.
Other players have also not been performing as fans know they can. Chris Maguire, a firm fan-favourite has struggled this season. He is capable of breathtaking goals and pieces of magic that can change a game. However, these moments are too few and far between at present. Other players are not stepping up when others are out of form.
Against Coventry too many players misplaced passes. Too often these passes would be easily intercepted or would go out of play. Sunderland’s midfield lacked the creativity and ideas to cause any real problems for the Sky Blues defence. It wasn’t until the 89th minute when the Black Cats looked like breaking down their opponents. In the 90th minute, Sunderland scored their equaliser, much to the relief of the fans and manager Phil Parkinson.
Substitutions Left Too Late
After Sunderland’s first-half display, it was a surprise to many that no changes were made during the break. Sunderland lacked any pace in vital areas of the field. Only left-back Denver Hume offered a threat with his pace. Parkinson had Duncan Watmore and Benji Kimpioka to call upon. Both players have the pace to trouble opposition defenders.
Parkinson left it until the 66th minute to make his first change. The first 20 minutes of the second half mirrored the opening 45 minutes and a change was in desperate need. Watmore finally being introduced for ineffectual Max Power. Watmore offered pace and a direct style of play from the right-wing. Something that had been obviously lacking for 66 minutes.
Benji Kimpioka was then brought on for striker Will Grigg who had been given 82 minutes to impress. Sadly for Sunderland, Grigg again failed in front of goal. Kimpioka troubled the Sky Blues defence and scored the equaliser eight minutes after being introduced.
Little Fight or Passion
For much of the game, Sunderland showed little fight or passion. Fans can accept many things from their team; however, a lack of fight and passion are not something fans can forgive easily. Stray passes were aplenty, lack of attempts on goal becoming the norm and a lack of desire to win the ball were all too evident.
Will Grigg Draws Another Blank
Striker Will Grigg, who had a prolific League One record before joining Sunderland in January, fired another blank. Grigg was signed for big money by League One standards and was expected to score the goals to help fire the Black Cats to promotion. The former Wigan Athletic hitman struggled for form last season, form which has continued into this. At present, the Northern Ireland international looks far removed from the player who scored 95 League One goals before moving to Wearside.
Positives for Phil Parkinson’s Sunderland Side
Although this was a very poor performance from the Black Cats, there were positives. Defensively, Phil Parkinson’s men looked solid, plus the performances of Watmore and Kimpioka when eventually introduced caused the away team concern. Luke O’Nien, playing at right-back, was his usual energetic self; however, his energy would be better suited further up the field in future.
On the whole, this was a disappointing afternoon for Phil Parkinson’s Sunderland. They now lie 10th in the table and for many, this will be the lowest they have ever felt as a Sunderland fan. Back in 1987, Sunderland lay 12th at one point in their first-ever season in England’s third tier. They would go on to win the league that season. Unless things improve quickly, the current squad, should they stay, will be plying their trade in League One once again next season.
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