This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Phil Parkinson spoke of his relief to still be involved in the draw for the next round of the FA Cup, but also issued a stern message to his players.
What did he say?
Sunderland let their lead slip at home to Gillingham on Saturday in a result which left their manager a little despondent after the game.
He looked visibly frustrated at his team’s inability to kill off a game which they dominated in large parts, with more possession and more corners than their opponents.
It wasn’t the manner in which they conceded which annoyed Parkinson, but he did speak of the importance of reacting to that moment, and identified what his squad must start doing if they want to win matches and be successful.
Speaking to safc.com, he said: “We must be stronger as a group, you don’t always get it your own way.
“Things do go against you on a football pitch, and when they do you’ve got to make sure that there’s a toughness about us as a group to come out the other side of that.”
Too often this season the Black Cats have lacked that. They have scored two or more goals in only six out of 15 league games, and recent 1-0 defeats by Wycombe and Shrewsbury hint at a lack of fight.
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Not a promotion team?
Since dropping into the third-tier Sunderland have lacked the clinical edge which can often prove the difference between finishing in the automatic promotion spots and not.
Their five draws this term adds to their 21 in 2018/19, which underlines their inability to get games across the line and win even if they’re not playing particularly well.
That is what is needed if they are to gain promotion, and interestingly Parkinson believes it is down to a mentality, rather than the abilities of his players.
It is an alternative take from the manager because his strikers Will Grigg, Marc McNulty and Charlie Wyke have scored just four league goals between them this season, and that would seemingly be a cause in their lack of attacking prowess, and an indication that they’re not good enough.
However, once Gillingham’s equaliser went in on Saturday they started to produce more chances, with Sunderland’s players seemingly losing a bit of confidence and morale, and that is something Parkinson has to put right.
If he can instil belief in the squad and an attitude of never giving up – which he did when he won promotion at Bolton – he may just begin to turn things around, despite the apparent need to strengthen the playing squad.
