Parkinson salutes character of players after draw at Fleetwood

Posted Thursday, January 02, 2020 by PA

Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson saluted the character within his team after they deservedly hit back to earn a 1-1 draw at play-off chasing Fleetwood.

The day after club owner Stewart Donald revealed he was ready to sell up and leave, Sunderland impressed at the Highbury Stadium and probably deserved to have secured maximum points.

Following up Sunday’s much-needed win at Doncaster, the Black Cats showed that 2020 could be a better year for the club.

Parkinson said: “I thought it was a very, very good display from us. I’m baffled by the Fleetwood penalty, I will let our fans judge that.

“How the ref has given a penalty for them I really don’t know. But we kept going.

“There is a renewed spirit in the camp and the lads are showing their character and desire, albeit we didn’t get all three points today. There were a lot of good signs once again.

“My job is to concentrate on what happens on the pitch and the lads are focused too.

“Obviously I’m in dialogue with the owner all the time and the most important thing from my point of view is that whatever goes on off the pitch doesn’t affect us, bringing players in in January and that is really important for us. There is a good feel about the group.”

Fleetwood went ahead from the penalty spot in the 13th minute.

After a spell of head tennis in the Sunderland box, Josh Morris was felled by Charlie Wyke’s stray arm, leaving Ched Evans to coolly slot home his eighth goal of the season.

Sunderland almost hit back straight away, with Lynden Gooch guiding a strike inches over the top.

Just before the half hour Black Cats striker Wyke was thwarted as his side-footed effort was superbly palmed over the top by Alex Cairns.

Wyke’s 48th-minute header from Luke O’Nien’s cross thumped a post, then O’Nien missed a sitter from eight yards midway through the second period.

Paddy Madden missed a late opportunity for Fleetwood before Sunderland’s leveller, with Chris Maguire slotting home after Kyle Dempsey had tripped substitute Duncan Watmore.

Fleetwood boss Joey Barton, banned from the touchline for this game following his sending-off against Bristol Rovers on Sunday, gave credit to Sunderland.

He said: “It could have been better from us, but both sides missed some really good chances. I thought we were going to get home, though.

“We hadn’t had too much luck this season, but it looked like we were going to get a bit here.

“Sunderland had hit the post, then Alex Cairns made an unbelievable save that he had no right to make, and then Luke O’Nien blasted over from round about the six-yard box.

“After those chances I thought ‘OK, this could be our day’. It would have been harsh on Sunderland to take no points.

“It’s another point gained as far as I’m concerned. That’s one defeat in 11 games for us now.

“It would have been nice to have won a couple more games, but also we haven’t lost many games at all this season so I’m really pleased.”