Simply not good enough. The words, I’m sure, that are being uttered by many a Sunderland fan, after another inconsistent and hugely disappointing performance. If Sunderland are to even come close to promotion this season, performances like this are going to have to be stopped. A late Elliott strike was just enough to salvage a point after Jason Roberts had put Wigan ahead, but it was an undeserved point if there ever was one.
McCarthy, unsurprisingly, named a similar side to that which convincingly waltzed past Chester earlier in the week. Jeff Whitley, to the unadulterated joy of many fans, declared himself fit and replaced Sean Thornton in the centre of midfield while the injured Thomas Myhre made way for Poom, making his first start since injuring his back.
Although the team was not dissimilar to Tuesday night, the performance was completely unrecognisable. Right from kick-off Sunderland looked nervous whilst on the ball and even less confident when defending. A defensive incompetence which was highlighted within the first 20 minutes when a confusion between Breen and Caldwell offered Roberts, a formidable striker at the best of times, a free run at goal and the easiest of chances to slot the ball past Poom. He duly obliged, giving Wigan a convincing lead. For the rest of the half, Sunderland went on the hunt for an equaliser, but never really managed to threaten the Wigan goal. Kyle’s penalty shout the only highlight of a very dull first 45 minutes.
The second half began much in the same vein as the first, with Wigan’s dangerous strike force creating more chances. This time it was Ellington who forced Poom to pull off a great save and keep Sunderland in the match. This seemed to worry McCarthy as he quickly made changes. Unfortunately to sarcastic cheers and vociferous jeers, Oster was replaced by Elliott after Sean Thornton had earlier come on for Arca, a substitution which was all a bit too fishy for my liking. The arrival of Thornton was enthusiastically welcomed but, although the lad has undoubted talent, his fitness levels seem as low as ever. Levels of fitness which were emphasised when, only 30 seconds after his substitution, he lost out in a race for the ball after starting a couple of yards ahead of the Wigan defender. Another problem with the two substitutions was that the team was left with no shape. McCarthy, obviously in a Reidy-ish frame of mind was playing a left-back as a centre-back, a right-back as a centre-back, a midfielder in defence and a forward in midfield. However, this desperate manoeuvre seemed to pay off as, after a sustained period of possession, Elliott fired home a good left foot shot from just outside the box. This raised the heads of the visibly disappointed Sunderland players as the tide turned and it was now them who looked the likeliest to steal a winner. Stewart, who had been the only player who really went in search of the ball, was beginning to look threatening while Kyle fired several headers wide. However, they could not turn their pressure into a winning goal and, for the second time in 3 home games, had to settle for a draw.
Man Of The Match: Marcus Stewart, for his work-rate alone he was the best of a bad bunch.
Matthew Woolston