The stunning stats behind George Dobson’s best performance in a Sunderland shirt ahead of Fleetwood Town clash

Dobson was instrumental in the centre of midfield as the Black Cats patiently put Bristol Rovers to the sword with three second half goals.

Dobson has forged an impressive partnership with skipper Max Power, two of the first names on the team sheet under Phil Parkinson.

And his stats against Rovers backed up why that is.

Dobson had a pass accuracy rate of 96 per cent, played one key pass, completed 11/11 attempts at a long ball, won 100 per cent of his ‘ground duels’ and made three interceptions.

The summer signing won praise post-match ahead of the visit of Fleetwood Town to the Stadium of Light on Tuesday evening, with Sunderland now fourth.

Parkinson said: “George has been excellent recently, he really has.

“With ten minutes to go I said 'George, don't you dare get booked'.

“I probably should have brought him off really. He's got an old head on young shoulders and he hardly gave the ball away. His all-round game was good.”

Sunderland have now won four straight games since the defeat at Portsmouth at the start of the month, with four consecutive clean sheets recorded too with automatic promotion hopes boosted in recent weeks.

Sunderland host Fleetwood and then travel to face another promotion rival Coventry City away next Sunday lunchtime, a potentially pivotal week in the promotion race.