Late Benji Kimpioka goal fails to gloss over another deeply concerning Sunderland display

More points dropped. The Black Cats sink to 10th in League One. 10th. Now just three points off the play-off positions with just a game in hand.

Don’t worry about the automatic places for now as this side is way off the pace and showing no signs they have what it takes to make the top two this season.

January can’t come quickly enough.

Here’s what we learned from the 1-1 draw.

Benji Kimpioka stakes a claim:

A maverick. It tells you something about Sunderland’s other forwards and experienced players that they had to rely on a teenager from the bench to dig them out of trouble.

It was a smart finish from the 19-year-old. Is he best suited for a super sub role for now? Probably. Previous displays have shown he can be erratic but he did his chances of a start against Burton no harm.

How not to press:

Time and time again, in a dismal first half in particular, Coventry were able to pass it around Sunderland because the press was inconsistent and not effective.

The players didn’t seem to be on the same wavelength when it came to who should press and then the lack of support from others clear. A big concern.

Not enough bodies in the box:

With the pitch wet, Sunderland should have been peppering the home goal from all angles and distances, you never know what might have happened with rebounds given the wet conditions.

Sunderland didn’t. And on the occasions they had time to deliver a cross, the quality was either poor or there weren’t enough bodies in the box.

That Tranmere home game seems a long time ago.

Denver Hume impresses again:

The left-back the star man, a constant threat when he broke forward, showing excellent footwork and an eye for a pass.

He was let down by his teammates. After a difficult start to the season, Hume has bounced back impressively.

Jordan Willis injury a major concern:

He made two superb tackles to deny Bakayoko and made several headers before injury forced him off. His ongoing knee problem is a big concern for Parkinson.

Sunderland need a settled side, a settled defence and the last thing they need is to lose their best defender for a spell of games.