Though this draw against Doncaster Rovers made it eight games without a defeat, the away side’s impressive rearguard performance ensured that we did not get the much-sought-after three points.
After a miserable run up until the Christmas fixture list which left Sunderland manager Phil Parkinson under immense pressure, they appeared to be now finding their feet under their new manager after the dismissal of Jack Ross.
Parkinson’s job was under much scrutiny and something had to change for the team to pick
up better results. This led to a change in formation where the team adapted wing-backs bombing forward to good effect.
In particular, this formation was suiting Denver Hume in the left wing-back role where his performance against Wycombe Wanderers at the Stadium of Light was particularly impressive.
Unfortunately, despite a frantic performance where Parkinson said the team played at “a hundred miles an hour” in the first half, Doncaster played an extremely defensive game that caused the disruption that it was intended to.
Whilst having plenty of the ball and an abundance of half-chances, the team barely created a clear opportunity other than Luke O’Nien and Duncan Watmore’s joint effort in added time that was saved.
After the game, Parkinson bemoaned the fact that the team couldn’t find an opening but suggested that teams were learning on how to deal with the team’s new style of play.
They defended very well.
If you look at the last two home games against Lincoln City and Wycombe Wanderers [when Sunderland took commanding leads inside half an hour], teams are going to watch that and Doncaster did a change-around in the way they have been playing away from home, added an extra midfield player to make it difficult for us, and they stiffened things up a bit.
Parkinson was right; Doncaster made it very difficult and it appeared that Sunderland were going to have to adapt again as coaches began to do their homework on them.
Despite the disappointment with the draw, the result actually lifted the team to 5th in the table which was a huge improvement given the fact they were lower mid-table at Christmas.
More dramatic circumstances were only around the corner as the pandemic landed on British shores in March.
