Stewart Donald sent Sunderland transfer message as dressing room issues arise: six key conclusions from Burton defeat

And there were plenty of conclusions to take from the reverse against the Brewers, as another limp showing resulted in a seventh defeat from Phil Parkinson’s 11 games in charge.

Here’s the key conclusions we took from the poor showing at the Stadium of Light:

STEWART DONALD IS SENT A CLEAR TRANSFER MESSAGE

If the Sunderland owner wasn’t aware of how vital the upcoming transfer window was before Tuesday evening, he certainly will be now.

Watching the side for the first time in over a month, Donald will no doubt have seen the glaring gaps in the side which will need filling in January.

Perhaps most obviously, some real quality in the final third is required. Sunderland have no craft, no guile and nobody to finish off the few chances they do create.

Indeed, it is telling that Sunderland’s goal came from the penalty spot. In open play, they forged little and are crying out for a more creative influence to add to their attacking arsenal.

Donald is prepared to back Parkinson in January - and that window is now make or break for the Black Cats if they are to have any chance of mounting a successful promotion push.

LEADERSHIP IS NEEDED - ON AND OFF THE PITCH

If there’s one thing Sunderland fans love, it’s passion.

But right now, Parkinson’s side are lacking leaders on the pitch. There was nobody grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck or rallying the troops when the Black Cats conceded a quick-fire equaliser, nor anybody urging them forward after they fell behind.

The finger may be pointed at Grant Leadbitter given he was wearing the armband, but Sunderland need leaders all over the pitch.

Right now, they don’t have that, and it’s a dressing room issue which needs resolving.

Leadership is also needed off the field. With Donald’s absence now having ended, he needs to ensure he leads from the front. Fans crave communication, especially in dire times such as these, and Donald needs to ensure that happens. Otherwise, he may risk alienating an already drifting fanbase.

PHIL PARKINSON PERHAPS UNDERESTIMATED THE SIZE OF THE TASK

Sitting down for his post-match press conference, Phil Parkinson looked weary.

His opening 11 games on Wearside have yielded just two wins, and perhaps only now is he aware of the task facing him.

For whoever took the job, this was never going to be a simple case of turning results around.

Sunderland are a club in transition, with a squad possessing clear deficiencies and talk of dressing room rifts. The fanbase are expectant but, rightly, are growing impatient with the poor form of late.

This is a big and attractive club but one with big issues, both on and off the field.

Parkinson, therefore, has a huge rebuilding job on his hands, with the short-term caveat of earning promotion back to the Championship at the earliest possible opportunity.

Is he the man to deliver the success fans crave? Only time will tell - but he remains confident.

LUKE O’NIEN’S FUTURE ROLE IS CLEAR

This was far from O’Nien’s best performance for the Black Cats but, even in a fairly mediocre display by his high standards, the fans’ favourite managed to play a pivotal role.

For it was his moment of intelligence which drew the foul that handed the Black Cats a first-half penalty. Ultimately, it proved to have little impact on the game - but it was a glimpse of O’Nien’s attacking potential.

And it’s moments such as that which make it clear that his future lies in a more attacking role.

MIXED MESSAGES ARE LEADING TO A LACK OF CLEAR PHILOSOPHY

Parkinson has regularly expressed a desire to play high-pressing, attacking football at the Stadium of Light - but the current Sunderland squad arguably isn’t suited to that kind of approach.

So what is the Black Cats’ current philosophy?

At Burton, it seemed to be a case of going long to Duncan Watmore and Will Grigg, losing possession, winning it back, and then going long again.

Only when Watmore, Aiden McGeady or Denver Hume got the ball at their feet and saw space ahead of them did Sunderland look threatening.

So why, then, do the side persist with playing long?

This isn’t the kind of football Parkinson suggested would be on show when he arrived. Indeed, it’s what many fans feared the manager - renowned for a more direct style - would instill at the Stadium of Light.

There needs to be a change of approach, and fast, with a clear philosophy now needed.

THIS TEN DAY BREAK IS PIVOTAL

While Parkinson has taken the brunt of criticism from supporters in the aftermath of the defeat to Burton Albion, there are some mitigating factors to consider.

He is yet to have a full week on the training ground with his entire squad. Two of the players he views as key to the way he wants to play - Lynden Gooch and Charlie Wyke - remain sidelined.

These factors, however, will be deemed irrelevant after Sunderland’s upcoming ten-day break.

By the time the Black Cats take to the field at Gillingham, Parkinson will have had over a week to work with his squad at the Academy of Light. Gooch and Wyke should also be nearing a return.

If results don’t improve over the festive period, the pressure is only set to mount - and a disgruntled fanbase may start to vote with their feet.