Portacabins, a warm-up change and Lee Johnson's new touchline weapon: Behind the scenes at Lincoln 0-4 Sunderland

We take a look at some of the moments you might have missed from the League One stalemate – from portacabins to technology on the touchlines…

The makeshift changing rooms

As has been the case at many grounds this season, Sunderland weren’t in the usual away dressing room at Sincil Bank.

With the dressing rooms in Lincoln considered a little bit on the cosy side, the Black Cats had to get prepared elsewhere: a portacabin.

It won’t be the most luxurious surrounding that Sunderland will be greeted with during this season, and players were seen post-match having to embark on a walk past the main stand and down the tunnel in order to use shower facilities.

You won’t have heard any complaints from the players after that performance, though!

A tale of two chats

Half-time changes have been a hot topic of discussion this season, and Lee Johnson wasn’t shy in making one at Lincoln City.

Jack Diamond, who had been so impressive in the first half, was withdrawn at the interval having been placed on a last warning after an early yellow card.

The youngster was greeted by Lee Butler and Andrew Taylor as he left the pitch, with both looking to have some kind words for the 20-year-old – who was arguably the standout performer in the first half.

And as the half-time break drew to a close, it was Chris Maguire’s turn for a touchline chat.

Both Johnson and assistant head coach Jamie McAllister had some words of advice and encouragement for the Scot as he prepared to enter the fray, and whatever was said seemed to do the trick.

Maguire was lively and effective in the second half and provided a fine assist for Charlie Wyke’s second of the afternoon.

Johnson now has a big decision to make in the forward areas with Maguire, Diamond and McGeady all putting in positive performances at Sincil Bank.

But it’s a good headache to have at a point in the season where squad depth will surely be tested as the fixtures continue to come thick and fast.

The Lee Johnson instruction already paying off

No sooner had Johnson sat in the Stadium of Light dugout for the first time had he called for a change in Sunderland’s forward play.

He wanted to see more bodies in the box, recognising that promising crossing positions were going to waste.

And his instruction to pile into the area has already been taken onboard – and helped the Black Cats on their way to victory in Lincolnshire.

When Diamond saw a cross only half-cleared midway through the first half, the fact Sunderland had additional bodies in the box allowed them to capitalise.

Conor McLaughlin picked up the pieces, chipped in a second cross and Callum McFadzean’s knock-down was stabbed home by Wyke.

It’s fair to question whether the Black Cats would have had sufficient bodies in attacking areas to do that a matter of weeks ago.

Johnson has also called for his side to press high up the field, and it was telling that even in the final minutes – when 4-0 up away at a promotion rival – that the Sunderland head coach was calling for his side to get higher up the field.

It’s all part of the setting of standards that Johnson has reiterated since his arrival on Wearside, and the early effects seem to be positive.

Technology on the touchline

Johnson has long been an advocate of technology in his coaching career.

At Bristol City, he introduced drones and large pitch-side monitors to add his training sessions.

But at Lincoln, it was a smaller screen that added to Johnson’s strategy: that of a tablet.

It’s become common practice for a number of clubs to utilise tablets on the touchline – with data and footage able to feed down to the bench allowing the coaching staff to make informed decisions.

And it’s something Sunderland now look to be utilising too. It’s something we haven't seen in the dugout so far this season, and it will be interesting to see how helpful this can become as the season progresses.

The warm-up change

As with the arrival of any new manager, there were always likely to be tweaks to Sunderland’s pre-match preparations when the new coaching staff arrived.

And it was interesting to note that the Black Cats’ midfielders now have their own specific warm-up drill.

While the defenders fine-tune their touch and headers, and the forward players take part in shooting practice (which is where those playing in the engine room used to head to prepare), the midfield trio now take part in a passing and movement drill alongside McAllister.

Dan Neil – who travelled with the squad but didn’t make the bench – was also involved in this at Lincoln.

A key figure in the stands

Kristjaan Speakman has wasted no time in getting stuck into his duties on Wearside – having watched the defeat to Wigan and win at Oldham in the last seven days.

And having said he would regularly attend all fixtures, Speakman backed up his word with an appearance at Sincil Bank.

The sporting director was perched in the directors’ box, alongside Jim Rodwell and other travelling directors – all of whom seemed very happy with what they saw.

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