January signings must be frustrated at lack of game time but Sunderland fans won't mind as long as Black Cats keep winning

Sunderland and the fans needed patience on Saturday, having to wait until the 71st minute for the deadlock to be broken but then the floodgates opened and Sunderland cashed in with another couple of goals to improve the goal difference and who knows if that will play a part at the season’s end.

Sunderland were helped in no small part by Rovers midfielder Abu Ogogo doing Sunderland a big favour by getting himself red carded and we can’t deny that had a huge influence on the final outcome.

Sunderland, though, should have had a penalty in the first half so it is not like the referee helped us.

The red card was deserved for a crazy act of ill discipline and if the penalty was given in the first half then the game might have been over earlier.

No wonder Phil Parkinson - barring injuries - keeps picking the same team every week.

It might be frustrating for the new lads who have just joined the club but if we keep winning from now until the end of the season and we don’t see much of the new signings I think we can all deal with that.

It is ironic that the one January addition who did force his way into the team, Bailey Wright, is now injured and could miss the rest of the campaign and that is a big blow but it is up to Alim Oztuk to make sure he is not missed.

When I look at the Sunderland team now, I see confidence, consistency and persistence.

They are not panicking if early goals do not come and are finding ways to win - that is four on the bounce now, all of them coming with those precious clean sheets.