Jack Ross verdict on Sunderland's start, promotion push and his dressing room message to squad

Jack Ross is pleased with Sunderland’s start to their promotion push but doesn’t believe the League One table will start to shape up until the tenth game.
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Sunderland bounced back from the 3-0 defeat to Peterborough United with a convincing 3-1 win away to Accrington Stanley.

It was their seventh game, with four wins, two draws and one defeat leaving Ross’ side fifth, well placed with a game in hand and just two points off the top.

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“I think it won’t be until after ten games that it really starts to settle. By the end of September, we will start to see a bit of shape to it,” added the Sunderland boss.

Jack Ross has delivered his verdict on Sunderland's start to the season.Jack Ross has delivered his verdict on Sunderland's start to the season.
Jack Ross has delivered his verdict on Sunderland's start to the season.

“We are pleased with where we are, even if we would like to be in an even better position.

“We have had one game postponed because of international commitments and we have to assess whether we keep doing that through the course of the season.

“Last season was challenging because of international call-ups and progressing in the Checkatrade Trophy because it put us back a bit and we were always playing catch-up. We would rather keep racking up the wins and the points.”

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Sunderland fell behind to a fifth minute Jordan Clark strike but responded quickly and emphatically, goals from Lynden Gooch, Aiden McGeady and Marc McNulty putting the Black Cats 3-1 up at half-time. A lead Stanley could not breach.

Ross added: “Every time we’ve lost a game in the last season and a bit, we’ve responded in the right way.

“I say often enough how I have to remain grounded through the good results and the occasional bad one.

“But the truth is we’ve made a good start and we’re in a good position in the league. In this period, Peterborough appears but it is what it is. But I’m pleased because the players have shown their character time after time over the last season. That has never been in doubt.

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“In private, I can be harsh on the players sometimes but it’s only because I want them to keep striving to get better and have those standards. The pressure ramps up every time we lose a game and it ramps up every time we win a game. That doesn’t change. By and large, I think we do deal with it.”