SUNDERLAND manager Lee Johnson showed admiration for his side’s controlled display where his players went on to breeze to a 3-0 win over Doncaster Rovers.
A Ross Stewart penalty, an Elliot Embleton finish and a Ben Blythe own goal handed the Black Cats a crucial victory that sent them into the top two of League One and extended their unbeaten league run to eight games.
With games to come over the festive period against Sheffield Wednesday and Fleetwood Town, the Black Cats are feeling the impact of lengthy injuries with Nathan Broadhead being the latest casualty and three positive Covid cases in the squad.
However, his depleted numbers still managed to make short work of a Doncaster side who sit second bottom in the table.
“It was really professional from us” said Johnson.
“We knew it was a bit of sticky wicket for Doncaster in terms of the players they had out, though of course we do as well.
“But I remember being at Oldham and it's tough when you lose three or four players, especially against a club like Sunderland. We had to be professional, find control.
“The early goal helped and then I felt we forced it a bit too much, we let them off the hook a bit by trying that goal ball too often, too early. The second goal came at a really good time, it was getting a bit frustrating.
“From there the control we had was really good.”
The Black Cats manager also revealed after the game that the club is almost certainly going to do business in the January transfer window given their lack of available numbers and the growing number of Covid cases across the UK.
However, he expects Carl Winchester’s injury will keep him out for a short period of time after the Northern Irishman missed the game following a training ground knock.
Sheffield Wednesday are the next opponents for Sunderland but there has been no official confirmation that the game is still on with the Owls suffering from a number of positive Covid cases in their squad.
Their last two league games have been postponed as a result.
