Lee Johnson galvanises Sunderland’s Black Cats to crush Lincoln City

Sunderland chalked up an emphatic 4-0 away win at Sincil Bank which left Black Cats supporters purring over their season’s possibilities.

Having put second-placed League One Lincoln to the sword, Johnson picked up his first three points with Sunderland leaving them just two points off the Play-off places going into the busy Christmas period.

What was most evident yesterday from Johnson’s Sunderland side was the high pressing game which penned free-flowing Lincoln back into their own half from the very early stages of the game. Sunderland’s front three of Charlie Wyke, Aiden McGeady and Jack Diamond worked tirelessly in not allowing Lincoln’s defenders to carry the ball out of defence.

Both Max Power and the evergreen Grant Leadbitter dominated the midfield area with Imps skipper and chief orchestrator Jorge Grant, unable to find his usual rhythm in the centre of the park. Johnson had clearly done his homework but after a bright opening, it was Lincoln that actually should have been at least a goal to the good before Leadbitter opened the afternoon’s scoring. 

Brennan Johnson twice broke away into the Sunderland box following great counter-attacking play but having been put clean through on both occasions, the young midfielder on loan from Nottingham Forest fluffed his lines. Johnson should have done much better in skewing his efforts wide with only keeper Sam Burge to beat and lacked composure at the vital time.

Image: Chris Vaughan/CameraSport

Whilst any Lincoln goal would have been against the run of play at that stage, Sunderland were undeterred in their pursuit of the game’s opener. As Lee Johnson refreshingly commented in his post-match interview that his ‘side won’t be going into any games to pick up draws’, Sunderland continued to probe and were awarded a penalty in the 15th minute after some good work from Jack Diamond in the box.

The impressive young winger danced past a couple of Lincoln challenges, and as skipper Jorge Grant committed himself, he was adjudged to have upended him when it looked as though the midfielder had gotten some contact on the ball. Grant Leadbitter cooly slotted home the resultant spot-kick and Sunderland didn’t look back from that point onwards.

In no mood to let their foot off the accelerator, the Black Cats continued to push Lincoln back. Aiden McGeady hit a free-kick into the side netting with Alex Palmer well beaten and just five minutes later, Sunderland put themselves further ahead.

Full-back Conor McLaughlin’s deflected cross looped to the back post where Callum McFadzean nodded down to Charlie Wyke, who swept the ball home from six yards out. It was just reward for Sunderland’s ambitions to extend their lead further.

Two goals to the good, Sunderland were happy to let the home side have possession as they sprang into life on the counter-attack, playing off target man Charlie Wyke. It was the big man’s excellent play that brought Sunderland their third goal.

As a Lincoln attack broke down, Wyke held onto a ball into him on the halfway line, feeding the onrushing Aiden McGeady, who drove towards the edge of the Lincoln box. As he slotted Jack Diamond in on the right-hand side of the box, the young winger turned infield before curling a delightful left-footed shot into Alex Palmer’s top corner. It was a fabulous goal and ruthless in its nature. 

Image: Getty Images

The game was effectively over at the break and the Sunderland boss could even afford to withdraw Diamond for the second period, the youngster having picked up a yellow card.

Lincoln still couldn’t find any rhythm in the second period as Power and Leadbitter continued to dominate the midfield. This Sunderland outfit looked galvanised and they continued to work hard and not allow Lincoln to get any passages of play going.

As a wayward Alex Palmer pass went into touch following more pressing from Sunderland’s frontmen, applause broke out across the pitch and from the touchline. Whatever Johnson has been saying to his players, there has clearly been buy-in.

The Black Cats continued to probe and put the icing on the cake of a fine afternoon with another cracking goal on 72 minutes. Centre back Tom Flanagan, who’d impressed with an assured display, carried the ball out from defence and played Chris Maguire in behind Lincoln’s backline.

The winger sprinted onto the ball and driving towards the byline, his pull-back was emphatically finished by Charlie Wyke for his second of the afternoon and his tenth goal of the season. It was another excellent goal and one that had Lee Johnson beaming on the touchline.

Image:Getty Images

Speaking in his post-match interview, Johnson was delighted to pick up his second victory in just his first week in the job. Hailing the 4-0 win, away to a side boasting a sold defensive record and sitting second in the league table, Johnson is well aware of the momentum that he needs to gather in getting Sunderland moving forwards.

“It (the result) allows the players to believe, it allows the fans to believe, and what I’m really impressed with was just how well the lads have understood the protocol – I’ve fired in a lot of terminology and detail, but they have really taken it in.

“I thought today, the compactness in possession and out of possession, gave us the strength to break down what is a very good side.

“My challenge now is to make sure I don’t tactically fatigue the boys and don’t bamboozle them. We just need to keep the consistency.

“If we keep that consistency in this division for the rest of the season, we will be successful.”

Despite the heavy defeat, Imps boss Michael Appleton remained vigilant and backed his young side to bounce back from a disappointing afternoon. Whilst he was unhappy with the penalty decision that broke the deadlock in the game, Appleton felt his side needed to show more resilience when decisions go against them in games.

“It’s not the first time and it definitely won’t be the last. I’ll be asking plenty of questions of the group.

“They’ve got to learn, they’ve got to grow up and, as a group, they’ve got to be more savvy and wiser at times.

“But you only get that by playing games, by putting yourself in situations.

“When that happens again, hopefully we’ll make better decisions.”

Appleton was pleased with his players’ efforts in the second half with the game already lost and whilst he bemoaned an injury to club captain Liam Birdcutt, which will see him miss the festive schedule, he backed young loanee Brennan Johnson to overcome his frustration in front of goal. Despite his missed chances yesterday, Johnson is a key part of Michael Appleton’s armoury.

“As long as he keeps getting in those positions and keeps putting the opposition under pressure I’ll be delighted because he will make good decisions. It just wasn’t his day.”

Lincoln have moved on from setbacks already this season and Appleton challenged his players to bounce back once more on Tuesday evening against Shrewsbury Town, who ironically beat League leaders Hull City at the weekend.

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