Phil Smith's verdict: Assessing a frustrating night for Sunderland and the key concerns for supporters

Sunderland had been inches away from snatching a winner against Rochdale. Max Power's dipping volley had looked certain to hit the top corner, beating Gavin Bazunu all ends up. The ball struck the crossbar, and once Danny Graham's weak header was well gathered by Bazunu, the chance was gone.

It was an interesting passage of play, too, for it summed up the contrast between the dugout and the front rooms across Wearside.

Parkinson had said his side were 'excellent' in the second half, and that this was a game in which he should have been praising three points well earned.

These late passages of play, for him, should have been the moment in which concerted pressure yielded the result.

Supporters, meanwhile, were left frustrated at the lack of changes.

To many, the second half was not one of dominance, but one in which Sunderland were predictable and one-paced.

Parkinson had left his starting XI in place until the 75th minute, when Josh Scowen replaced Chris Maguire in what was a like-for-like switch in terms of personnel.

It was the same six minutes later when Charlie Wyke was replaced by Danny Graham.

Sunderland finished the game in need of a winner but with Will Grigg and Aiden O'Brien still unused substitutes on the bench.

Without question, the Black Cats were doing most of the running in the second half.

Bazunu, though, was rarely tested.

Power's effort was superb and while Wyke had hit the post with a terrific header shortly before his departure, that was about all you would be able to muster for a highlights reel.

Rochdale were tiring in the latter stages, undoubtedly, but it was difficult to disagree with Brian Barry-Murphy's assessment that they were worthy of their point and in that, the reaction on Wearside can be understood.

The mood after this disappointment differed significantly to the occasions this season where Sunderland have dropped points.

Against Bristol Rovers, there had been an early error that skewed the contest. At Charlton, a game the Black Cats controlled and should have won.

Portsmouth comprehensively outplayed Sunderland but given the control Parkinson's side had largely enjoyed in the games previous, there was leeway given.

Parkinson's response to that setback had been to make four changes (one of those enforced), and to revert to a 3-4-3 system that had delivered some impressive performances last season.

The results were mixed.

Grant Leadbitter's composure in the centre of midfield was missed, with George Dobson and Max Power taking time to get up to the pace of the game.

Parkinson had noted the previous fixture between the two as one of the causes for moving back to the 3-4-3, citing the way in which his side had overwhelmed Rochdale with their aggressive pressing.

There was a spell just after Wyke's opener when it looked as if that could be the case, but in truth this was not the imposing physicality we have seen from Sunderland when at their best in 2020.

That, in part, was credit to the home side. They have built a reputation for playing out from the back no matter what but here there was a pragmatism.

Sunderland waited for the passes into midfield in the hope of forcing an error, but they were often happy to bypass the waiting red-and-white shirts.

They looked lively when breaking forward, their two goals reward for flooding the box in the relatively rare moments when they were able to get into the advanced areas.

Parkinson, understandably, was left frustrated by his team's inability to stop those crossed from the right flank.

This was a rare slackness that we have not come to associate with his side.

On both occasions, they had taken the lead when their general play had been lacking fluidity. To gift the initiative back with such soft defending was as concerning as it was surprising.

Afterwards, the Black Cats boss said he felt his side have perhaps become too concerned with their inability to convert chances into goals earlier in the season, leading to a lapse in the defensive standards of the early games.

There was another firm defence of his striking options, insisting that over the course of the season they will deliver the goals required to win promotion.

After two frustrating seasons in League One, the tension supporters hold is understandable and regardless of the second-half improvement, this was a display that fell short of where Sunderland need to be.

It's worth remembering, of course, that this ground has not been one in which Sunderland have always found it easy going since dropping into the third tier.

Yes, they have won on both of their recent visits, but they needed a stoppage-time goal in the first encounter and some late heroics from Jon McLaughlin in the second.

Nevertheless, it is this lack of ruthlessness that has cost the Black Cats dear, and is what many supporters hoped Parkinson's side were leaving behind in the early stages of this campaign.

Perhaps they are.

These are still early days and though the headline of seven points off top spot is concerning, there is a game-in-hand to be played on five of the six teams above them in the table.

This flat performance may yet prove to be an outlier, but it is absolutely right to raise concern.

Sunderland's standards slipped, and they need to produce more considerably moe in the weeks ahead.

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