Lynden Gooch has this message for Sunderland as he reflects on Doncaster win and the challenge ahead

Lynden Gooch says Sunderland must back up their promising display against Doncaster Rovers when they travel to Fleetwood on New Year’s Day.
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Gooch was one of many excellent performers in a much-needed 2-1 win, scoring a stunning opening goal and playing his part in Chris Maguire’s winner.

The 24-year-old has been consistent in saying that promotion remains the club’s aim but knows that one win is not enough after such a wretched run of form, with the Black Cats dropping to the lowest position in their history.

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Sunderland will face a Fleetwood side four points and five places above them, set to provide a stern test and an early indication of whether the Doncaster performance can be replicated consistently.

Lynden Gooch celebrates his stunning opening goalLynden Gooch celebrates his stunning opening goal
Lynden Gooch celebrates his stunning opening goal

“We need to get back-to-back wins, so we need to go to Fleetwood and try to win,” Gooch said.

“We can’t get too far ahead of ourselves. We know what Fleetwood will be like coming up against Sunderland, he [Joey Barton] will try to fire his team up the way he does and we need to be ready. If we come out like we did at Doncaster then we should win.

“You can’t really say what our aim is after one win but we want to get promoted still.

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“If we are not trying to get promoted out of this league as Sunderland then there is something wrong.

“We have been on a disappointing run, but we have a good squad, quality players and we saw that at Doncaster. We need to be consistent and get another win on the board and maintain that.”

Sunderland received a thunderous reception from the 4,000 travelling fans, a support Gooch said was ‘outstanding’.

“We need to stick together, the gaffer is working so hard to try to get things right and it’s up to us to implement what he wants us to do,” he said.

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“For the first half at Doncaster we were outstanding, until they scored when we were a bit sloppy, but every one to a man was brilliant, working hard for each other.

“We were on the front foot from the off, playing with a high tempo, picking up second balls. Going ahead early always helps and that was a plus for us.

“It gave everyone a buzz, but there has been no lack of effort.

“In training you can see we want to play attacking football, results haven’t seen many wins from those, but the manager is working hard to get results to get us promoted and we need to stick together, we all need to pull in the right direction or we will not achieve anything if we don’t.

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“It was massive for us at Doncaster to have the fans like they were, it is important not just for the manager but for the players and the fans and everyone.

“Results frustrates everyone, not just the fans, it frustrates the manager and the players. If we can stick together and take us in a positive direction then we will get positive results.

“The fans were outstanding.

“We all need to stick together because there is only us who can get us going and that has to be together. We nneed to get ourselves out of this situation, no matter how frustrated we all are, we have to and we know it is difficult at times but that’s how it is.”

Gooch was part of an enterprising display throughout the contest, forming a particularly effective partnership down the left flank with Denver Hume.

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Both were key in the two goals that secured three vital points and signaled a welcome return to form and fitness for Gooch. “A lot of my goals and scored like that, I am delighted to be back and to help the team,” he said.

“It is sweet when it comes off like that, I work hard on my finishing. I score a lot of goals with my left foot even though it is supposedly my weaker foot. I think any chane where I get half a yard I will have a shot.

“Me and Denver work hard in training to develop a good understanding, we have come through the academy together as well so that always helps.”