Elliott Dickman's crucial influence and Joey Barton's surprising approach: Behind the scenes at Fleetwood 2-1 Sunderland

And while thousands will have watched the game over a stream, there are moments that the cameras don’t quite capture.

So here, we take you behind the scenes and look at some of the moments you may have missed:

ELLIOTT DICKMAN’S CRUCIAL ROLE

The Sunderland under-23 boss will have taken some real pride in the fact so many of his players were involved in the match day squad.

And Dickman, along with assistant manager Michael Proctor, were very much a part of the Black Cats’ staff on the day.

It was a similar story at Morecambe a few years ago, when Dickman travelled to watch a squad padded out with under-23 players. But on this occasion, he was far more involved.

Perched just behind the substitutes and within earshot of the Sunderland bench, Dickman was called upon by Phil Parkinson for advice when it came to substitutions.

When Oliver Younger went down in the first half, Dickman was consulted before Cieran Dunne entered the fray – and he was also on hand to offer advice to Parkinson as Vinnie Steels and Sam Wilding made their debuts.

And his advice didn’t just extend to the coaching staff, either.

He was quick to help Sunderland’s inexperienced bench find their socially distanced seats prior to kick-off, after a handful tried to walk in completely the wrong direction.

A TALE OF TWO PRESSES

In the first half, Sunderland’s youthful energy really came to the fore.

Parkinson was constantly urging his troops higher up the pitch as they got on the front foot and forced what was a fairly inexperienced backline into some mistakes.

Their press was effective and yielded some real results – particularly for the goal, where Josh Hawkes was able to pounce on James Hill’s slack pass and kick-start the move that ultimately allowed Callum McFadzean to finish.

Yet after the break, the game was flipped entirely.

It was then Fleetwood who were pressing, with intensity and purpose, forcing Sunderland into mistakes and getting two goals as a reward.

Injuries didn’t help, but it was clear the Cod Army had been given a stern talking to at the break given the way they started the second half.

And tellingly, they took the chances that presented themselves during their spell of dominance – while the Black Cats were frustratingly denied by the woodwork.

EMBLETON’S SET PIECE PROWESS

While Sunderland’s opportunities in the second half were limited, there was one avenue that looked as if it could yield a goal.

With Elliot Embleton back in the fold, Sunderland’s set pieces were a real source of chances and the consistency with which he delivered them – barring one in the first half which failed to clear the first man – was frightening.

Impressively, Embleton was delivering the set plays with both feet and with equal threat.

It was unfortunate that his delivery and Oliver Younger’s stunning diving header didn’t open the scoring in the first half such was the quality of the ball in and the endeavour shown to get on the end of it.

These deliveries were a real reminder of what Embleton can bring to this side - and here’s hoping he can soon have a sustained run in the first-team fold.

A PRE-PLANNED POSITIONAL CHANGE

Out of favour in recent weeks, the Papa John’s Trophy game presented a real opportunity to George Dobson.

And in the first half in particular, he really caught the eye in the centre of the park.

But he was equally impressive when asked to deputise as a central defender following the second half injury to Callum McFadzean (who himself had been pushed into the central role after injury to Oliver Younger).

Prior to the change, Dobson was quickly called over by Parkinson and quickly told to move back.

The lack of instructions given suggest that the prospect of Dobson playing as a defender was perhaps a possibility that had been discussed prior to the game.

It’s a role that is not unfamiliar to the 22-year-old, who played as a central defender as a youngster at Arsenal.

And he was impressive in the role, making a series of important blocks and interceptions.

He likely won’t have displaced Grant Leadbitter and Josh Scowen in the first-team just yet, but this was a positive step in the right direction.

JOEY BARTON’S SURPRISING APPROACH

We all know Joey Barton tends to relish these games.

The David v Golliath rhetoric is trotted out pre-match, alongside some thinly veiled dig at Sunderland fans and a reference to his Newcastle United past is generally trotted out.

But this time was different.

There were no brash pre-match comments from the Fleetwood boss, who was a pretty unanimated character on the touchline.

His post-match media duties were handled by his assistant, Barry Nicholson, as Barton very much took a back seat.

Even on the touchline, he wasn’t chirping away and cut quite a laid back figure.

It’s likely not a wholesale persona change, and is perhaps more symbolic of the lack of interest in the Papa John’s Trophy – a competition that many felt should have been cancelled this season – in the division.

Indeed, you can bet that Barton won’t be as restrained if there is a similar result in the league fixture later this month.

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