Phil Smith's verdict: The clear challenges Lee Johnson faces after Sunderland are held to another frustrating draw

After all, there had been little normal about Sunderland's preparation for this game and by the time kick-off came around, eight of those named in the starting XI had at some stage over the festive period tested positive for COVID-19.

Though generally the squad's recovery has been reassuringly strong, it's something that Sunderland and Lee Johnson will continue to monitor in the weeks ahead.

So much about this virus remains unknown and the medium to long-term impact on an athlete's physical capacity is one.

Nevertheless, Johnson's post-match frustration told you that he did not believe this was the defining factor as Sunderland dropped another two points to a side struggling in the lower reaches of the League One table.

Johnson was left calling for more belief in his squad, and pointedly said that he felt there were one or two players in his side who 'needed to be brighter'.

The Head Coach was eager to maintain his composure as he talked through the game, but there was an obvious frustration that even taking into consideration all the disruption that has gone on of late, Sunderland have been unable to build on the platform of that cathartic Lincoln City win.

Johnson did not, at least entirely, believe the attacking failures here were reflective of an inability to break down deep-lying defences.

Northampton were limited in their ambition but by and large they did look to press higher up the pitch and Johnson felt that through the contest, this had presented opportunity.

On three or four occassions Sunderland did have the space to counter in the way they had so destructively managed to do at Lincoln, but the incision and final ball was lacking

This was the inconsistency, both in belief and end product, that frustrated Johnson.

That there are general attacking shortcomings remains obvious nevertheless and it is here where Johnson's most important work is to be done in the weeks and months ahead.

Northampton, to their credit, had a gameplan that they carried out with unerring accuracy. Keith Curle's side resembled Wycombe Wanderers of last season in much of their approach.

The pitch was in poor condition, undoubtedly one reason why Sunderland's passing game and counter-attacking fell short on occasions. They consistently took time out of the game, preventing the Black Cats from building any kind of rhythm.

Their defensive structure though, was excellent.

Curle is a fascinating fixture on the touchline, his in-game vocabulary limited but absolutely clear in its instruction.

'Shape', 'get higher', 'one side', 'stop the cross' were the relentless cries from the home dugout and Sunderland found themselves blunted.

Too often the possession was far from the opposition goal, and too often the crosses came in from areas where the home defence were very obviously comfortable to defend them. In this, there was an obvious similarity with so many of the frustrating performances and results that came with the early weeks of the season.

Johnson knows he needs greater balance in the side and that either needs to come through recruitment or coaching.

Sunderland's issues were, it must be said, heightened by the fact that neither Denver Hume nor Callum McFadzean were available for selection.

Hume in particular still has areas of his game to improve on as he establishes himself at a senior level, but his qualities are notable when he is absent.

Dion Sanderson acquitted himself superbly in an unfamiliar position, strong defensively and willing to get forward. Without Hume, though, Sunderland never had the natural option to stretch the opposition defence and this was particularly frustrating when the attention Aiden McGeady draws from opposition defenders leaves so much space beyond him.

Johnson had even considered selecting Elliot Embleton at left-back, to try and bring that balance and maintain the attacking threat, opting not to only because of the power that Northampton can possess at set pieces.

Hume's return (plus that of McFadzean) will help, but it remains abundantly clear that alone will not be enough.

Sunderland need more creativity in central midfield and the inability to stretch opposition defences through raw pace remains an obvious achilles heel in games such as these.

Johnson spoke post-match here of having a lot of talented players, but ones who are always keen to come to the ball.

It says everything about Sunderland's structural failings over the last two years that Jack Ross was saying the same thing months into his tenure. Then, he was speaking about the qualities that he hoped Duncan Watmore would bring on his return.

All these frustrating draws later, they are qualities the Black Cats are still searching for even as Jack Diamond makes impressive strides.

The start to Johnson's tenure has been disjointed to say the least and as much as any January signing, the head coach will hope the next month brings proper and settled time on the training pitch to implement his ideas and above all else, build belief amongst the squad in them.

Sunderland's first fixture of 2021 served as a reminded that the issues that they faced in 2020, and even 2019 before that, will not be corrected easily.

There is plenty of time left (hopefully, anyway) in this campaign, and the teams towards the top are not so far away as to create a panic when it comes to Sunderland's promotion ambitions.

The scale of the challenge ahead for Johnson has never been clearer all the same.

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