Lee Johnson weighs up 'difficult' Sunderland selection call in Tom Flanagan and Ross Stewart injury update

Stunning strikes from Jordan Jones and Chris Maguire rescued a point from a game in which Johnson was scatching of his team's first-half performance.

The Sunderland Head Coach says he and his squad are fully aware that they will not 'get away' with many more displays of that ilk.

After the game at Gresty Road Johnson admitted his side may have benefit from more changes, and that will be weighing on his mind as he picks his team for Tuesday's game.

John Sheridan's Swindon Town are struggling just three points above the relegation zone, but have taken seven points from nine of late.

"One of the lessons I learned very early on in football management is to never pick the team directly after a game! Because you can be very emotional," Johnson said.

"We know we've got to be at it, a lot more than we were on Saturday.

"It's a really difficult team selection because I've got to find certain attributes and a lift from zero if you like, that will give us the opportunity to go and win the game.

"More importantly, the process to do the right things to win those margins that give us the opportunity to win the game.

"I'm going to have to really make sure that any player I pick is really up for it.

"It's a game we can win if we're full of endeavour and win those duels, and trust the process of the performance that we've seen on a number of occasions so far.

"The positive is that it's kept a run going, and the form over five or six games is still pretty good.

"We've got away with one and we know we won't get away with many, particularly in March when we've got those big games."

Johnson is not expecting any of his currently sidelined players to return to the matchday squad on Tuesday night.

The Black Cats boss is hopeful that alongside Bailey Wright, Tom Flanagan and Ross Stewart will be able to return in the near future but both have endured minor setbacks in their recovery from calf and hamstring injuries respectively.

"Tom Flanagan won't be back, he's actually got a slightly deferred injury," Johnson said.

"I think when he's broken his foot he's been running differently, and he's then felt his calf. He's then I think been covering his calf and he's felt his hip flexor.

"Bailey [Wright] is really trying for that week leading into the Papa John's final.

"Ross Stewart is doing everything alright, but there's something that's just nipping him.

"He's not fully confident in it, it's definitely physical rather than mental. It's not bad, it's just an ache and that suggests it's just not quite fully healed yet.

"He's exactly the kind of player that you'd have loved to have stuck on against Crewe, that kind of player who can chase and win his own flick-ons."

Grant Leadbitter will be absent as the club assess how long he will be out for following a dislocated shoulder.

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