Ross hails match-winner McGeady’s quality as Sunderland get back on track

Posted Sunday, February 03, 2019 by PA

Jack Ross is hoping Aiden McGeady’s international quality will prove crucial as Sunderland’s League One promotion push approaches its climax.

Republic of Ireland winger McGeady’s 67th-minute finish shattered some stout AFC Wimbledon resistance, and lifted Sunderland back to within three points of the automatic promotion places.

If the Black Cats win their games in hand, they will move level on points with league leaders Luton, and while plenty of attention has been focused on the four new signings who arrived at the Stadium of Light last month, Ross feels McGeady’s attacking prowess could be key to his side’s hopes.

The Sunderland boss, whose team had drawn their previous three games, said: “I thought he was really bright. He’s proven the quality he has. I thought in the first half we were too short and too narrow, but I thought in the second half we got wider a bit more, and that’s where the goal comes from.

“It’s alright having width though, you need that special bit of quality when it gets there, and Aiden has done that a lot for us this season.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with him. Players are all different, but he cares. He cares about his football and his standards. He’s not just a talented player – you don’t have the career he’s had in the game without the drive and determination to win games and get the better of your opponent.

“Players can show that in different ways. He doesn’t speak publicly that much, but he has that in him. You don’t play for your country and play in the Champions League without that.”

AFC Wimbledon remain rooted to the foot of the table, but while his players were unable to replicate the performance that enabled them to knock West Ham out of the FA Cup last weekend, visiting manager Wally Downes was happy with his side’s efforts.

Downes said: “The result didn’t go for us, but I think the boys performed very well. It’s a tough place to come, and after the week they’ve had after the result at West Ham, I think the eyes were on them a little bit. They answered a few questions.

“I think we played well. They probably had more possession in the first half, but we came in in a great position to win a game.

“It was a good opportunity when (Scott) Wagstaff went through. He showed great balance to get through between two players. All of a sudden he becomes unbalanced. The referee said he didn’t see a trip but what he didn’t see was a pull on his arm.

“They’re not going to be coming to stadiums like this against a team of this quality every week. If they take the performance forward, we won’t be playing Sunderland every week.

“Other teams down there have been on runs recently and I can’t see any reason why we can’t win three games on the trot.”