AC Mack
Striker
A 3-0 win in a game that had 0-0 written all over it after our failure to convert a number of well worked opportunities. We played some good stuff both halves again, only today we didn't put the game to bed first half like we have been doing. A helping hand meant a comfortable and deserved victory in the end, against a side that started with intensity but couldn't maintain it.
Player ratings
McLaughlin - did he have anything to do at all? The very little of the ball he did see was unmemorable, and he was solid with the little things he was called into action for. Another clean sheet thanks to our great organisation, which of course he's a part of. 6.5.
Willis - a stroll in the park for our most consistent player this season. He just dominates at the back. 7.5.
Ozturk - slotted back in like he'd never been away. His customary booking on the halfway line aside, he's solid, calm and confident. 7.5
Flanagan - just as good as his partners today, and better distribution overall. He played a couple of lovely through balls for Gooch and Hume. 7.5.
O'Nien - his link up down the right (particularly with Maguire) is a real highlight of how we play and how effective we get down the flanks. We did it with ease again today, and O'Nien was often at the heart of it. A deserved goal and could have had another at the end. 8.
Hume - much better from him today after a lull in recent weeks. End product needs work as always but he was just as much a threat marauding down the left as O'Nien on the right. There were a couple of occasions today where he just ran on and on and should have got a shot away rather than looking to pass. Improve his decision making and composure and he'd be a good player. 7.
Dobson - winning the ball and controlling the play in the middle is coming naturally to Dobson at the moment. He seems to be growing in confidence with his distribution and he's often the source for us building down the wings with his tenacity and willingness to switch the ball to the flanks. 7.5
Power - all over the pitch all game. He does little things well which go unnoticed, but sometimes ballses up a Hollywood pass. His work rate and stamina are important features of our game. That said, he didn't seem to have a big influence on the game today. 6.5.
Maguire - one of our best players first half thanks to his movement and linking up down the right. He's got a lot of ability for this level, but we only see it in patches. Things weren't always coming off for him, yet he remained a threat throughout. 7.5
Gooch - really quiet for the most part, and was probably close to being hooked when he scored what was a lovely team goal. When he has the ball his close control and acceleration always make him a threat, he just didn't see it much today. 6.5.
Wyke - started off really well, faded, then took the crucial second goal well. He's limited though, and doesn't get himself in the best position in the box to get on the end of crosses, which he really should be doing more of. He needs to be stronger at times too, rather than just looking for the foul. 7.
Some of those ratings seem half a mark high, but a dominant 3-0 win should not be dismissed. Especially as we should have been a couple up before we did eventually score.
Parkinson - it's official, he now has his own chant. It's been a long time coming because it's been years since we had a team as settled as this one, with a clear plan, formation, and way of playing. Parkinson has Sunderland fans enjoying their football again.
Bristol Rovers - they started with fire in their bellies and lots of intensity. That seemed to fade during the first half when we continuously carved them open down the wings. Suddenly they were happy to just be in the game. They became niggly which is understandable when you're under the cosh. They lost their heads a bit second half and by the time we scored our second and they were down to ten men, it was game over and they gave up. Their only notable player seems to Jonson Clarke Harris, who I think would link up really well with Gooch and Maguirre (as I've said a number of times before). Their bench spat their dummies out eventually - whether it was justified, I'm not sure.
Ref - he was quite inconsistent overall. He riled the home fans first half by giving a couple of soft fouls and denying us a possible penalty. In the second half he riled Bristol Rovers by giving most decisions to us, including two crucial ones in the red card and not stopping play for the second. If he got these decisions right he should be praised (he won't be); if he got them wrong then we definitely got the rub of the green today (which nobody will acknowledge).
Crowd - in quite good voice overall. The Roker end love Parkinson.
Player ratings
McLaughlin - did he have anything to do at all? The very little of the ball he did see was unmemorable, and he was solid with the little things he was called into action for. Another clean sheet thanks to our great organisation, which of course he's a part of. 6.5.
Willis - a stroll in the park for our most consistent player this season. He just dominates at the back. 7.5.
Ozturk - slotted back in like he'd never been away. His customary booking on the halfway line aside, he's solid, calm and confident. 7.5
Flanagan - just as good as his partners today, and better distribution overall. He played a couple of lovely through balls for Gooch and Hume. 7.5.
O'Nien - his link up down the right (particularly with Maguire) is a real highlight of how we play and how effective we get down the flanks. We did it with ease again today, and O'Nien was often at the heart of it. A deserved goal and could have had another at the end. 8.
Hume - much better from him today after a lull in recent weeks. End product needs work as always but he was just as much a threat marauding down the left as O'Nien on the right. There were a couple of occasions today where he just ran on and on and should have got a shot away rather than looking to pass. Improve his decision making and composure and he'd be a good player. 7.
Dobson - winning the ball and controlling the play in the middle is coming naturally to Dobson at the moment. He seems to be growing in confidence with his distribution and he's often the source for us building down the wings with his tenacity and willingness to switch the ball to the flanks. 7.5
Power - all over the pitch all game. He does little things well which go unnoticed, but sometimes ballses up a Hollywood pass. His work rate and stamina are important features of our game. That said, he didn't seem to have a big influence on the game today. 6.5.
Maguire - one of our best players first half thanks to his movement and linking up down the right. He's got a lot of ability for this level, but we only see it in patches. Things weren't always coming off for him, yet he remained a threat throughout. 7.5
Gooch - really quiet for the most part, and was probably close to being hooked when he scored what was a lovely team goal. When he has the ball his close control and acceleration always make him a threat, he just didn't see it much today. 6.5.
Wyke - started off really well, faded, then took the crucial second goal well. He's limited though, and doesn't get himself in the best position in the box to get on the end of crosses, which he really should be doing more of. He needs to be stronger at times too, rather than just looking for the foul. 7.
Some of those ratings seem half a mark high, but a dominant 3-0 win should not be dismissed. Especially as we should have been a couple up before we did eventually score.
Parkinson - it's official, he now has his own chant. It's been a long time coming because it's been years since we had a team as settled as this one, with a clear plan, formation, and way of playing. Parkinson has Sunderland fans enjoying their football again.
Bristol Rovers - they started with fire in their bellies and lots of intensity. That seemed to fade during the first half when we continuously carved them open down the wings. Suddenly they were happy to just be in the game. They became niggly which is understandable when you're under the cosh. They lost their heads a bit second half and by the time we scored our second and they were down to ten men, it was game over and they gave up. Their only notable player seems to Jonson Clarke Harris, who I think would link up really well with Gooch and Maguirre (as I've said a number of times before). Their bench spat their dummies out eventually - whether it was justified, I'm not sure.
Ref - he was quite inconsistent overall. He riled the home fans first half by giving a couple of soft fouls and denying us a possible penalty. In the second half he riled Bristol Rovers by giving most decisions to us, including two crucial ones in the red card and not stopping play for the second. If he got these decisions right he should be praised (he won't be); if he got them wrong then we definitely got the rub of the green today (which nobody will acknowledge).
Crowd - in quite good voice overall. The Roker end love Parkinson.
