The inside track on Sunderland’s heroics against Fleetwood Town and the growing spirit in the dressing room

There was little sign of the free-flowing, attacking football fans have come to expect from Phil Parkinson’s side. Fleetwood executed their game plan perfectly, stopping any form of fluidity in the Black Cats’ play.

But a growing spirit in the dressing room meant Sunderland kept digging away - before Max Power’s late strike saw them steal the point they deserved.

Parkinson made no bones about the fact he was disappointed with a poor opening to the game, and there was an acceptance within the dressing room that the opening stages were far from good enough.

But players and staff were delighted with the desire, willing and drive shown.

“I think that sums us up at the minute,” said midfielder George Dobson

“We’ve got the never say die attitude and the will to just keep going and going.

“Fleetwood came at us and the first 10 minutes was nowhere near good enough; we didn't start the game good enough, and then they just came and frustrated us. They got the goal, then sat behind the ball, time-wasted ridiculously.

“But it's a massive point. Obviously we would want to win the game but in context of where we were at with ten minutes to go it keeps the momentum going, and obviously going into another massive game at the weekend.

“All the boys are buzzing, on a massive high, so we've just gotta take that onto the weekend and hopefully start better.”

The result extended Sunderland’s unbeaten run to five games and, having lost just once since December 14, it’s no surprise confidence is high.

Goals have been plentiful in recent weeks too, with the Black Cats only failing to score twice in their last 13 games.

It’s those statistics that made Dobson sure the side would somehow find a leveller.

“If you know in that you can always get a goal, you've never given up and keep going until the final whistle - and it was literally the final whistle - it does give the whole team and the whole group more belief and so it's massive for us.

“As I said, we didn't start good enough but it's a big point and it's on to the weekend now.”

While Sunderland had that belief throughout the evening, they were well-marshalled by a Fleetwood side who set out to frustrate after Barrie McKay’s early strike.

There was little complaint from the home dressing room about their style of play, though.

“We’ve done the same thing,” admitted Dobson.

“Obviously, when we scored the early go Oxford, we tried to frustrate them, and we were able to see it out. And especially when it gets down to these last 10-11 games, the points are so massive and teams are going to frustrate.

“So you can't get frustrated at yourself as a team. You've got to just keep going and keep doing your stuff, and obviously it paid off today. We weren't brilliant, but then when you're not brilliant, then you're still getting results is positive.

“We've had four straight wins and four straight clean sheets, but tonight was a different test in terms of, we conceded early, something we haven't been used to in the last 10 games, and we found a way to get a point and keep what is another unbeaten run going.”

“It was similar on Saturday in terms of Bristol sitting behind the ball too,” he continued.

“With Fleetwood getting the early goal though, it meant they had something to hold on to. So that was always going to be a frustration.

“We probably could have been more patient at times today, but in the end, our patience did pay off.”

And when that patience paid off, it created some memorable scenes at the Stadium of Light.

Fleetwood boss Joey Barton claimed the Black Cats celebrated as if they had won the World Cup and, while that was more than slightly hyperbolic, the celebrations were certainly far less muted than they have been in recent weeks.

It was an outpouring of joy and relief - and a moment that the dressing room are now keen to use to help drive Sunderland forward.

“It was brilliant,” said Dobson.

“I was on the bench at the time, but whether you're on the bench or out there, it's a great feeling for everyone.

“Obviously, the relief of it being so late on. I was buzzing for Max.

“You can tell he's a leader. The gaffer's obviously given him that responsibility since the last 10-11 games or whatever it's been, and yeah, he's a leader on the pitch and off the pitch and he's been a massive help to everyone. I really enjoy playing with him and long may it continue.

“His goal just sets us in good stead to keep the momentum going, which I just feel like it's going to be a massive thing.”

Dobson’s final word went to the supporters.

As another bumper crowd backed the side, it was noticeable that at no point didn’t they let the frustration turn into anger.

That, says Dobson, isn’t lost on the dressing room.

“The fans are massive for us.

“When there is so many of them you need them to stay behind you at all times, especially going into these last 11 games.

“We're really going to need them, so I just hope they stick with us and keep doing what they're doing.”