Phil Smith: I watched Sunderland's crucial win over Leeds United and these were my key conclusions

Sunderland reached the 40-point mark on Tuesday night with a brilliant rearguard win over Leeds United at Elland Road.

Phil Smith was there reporting for The Echo and these were his key conclusions...

Sunderland reach 40 points in exhibition of their best qualities

Régis Le Bris is not stranger to understatement but even so, it was hard not to have a wry smile when he spoke in his post-match press conference and said his side 'could have been better on the ball' in this game. You can say that again. There's no point pretending this was a perfect or a particularly enthralling Sunderland performance on the ball, that there were a number flowing moves that will be remembered for by those were there for years to come. They had three shots and one on target, and even their penalty was if we are brutally honest a pretty tame effort: You can understand why Leeds United boss Daniel Farke said he was baffled to have lost the game after.

Le Bris was right, though, to speak with genuine proud about his players and their performance. They have been ravaged by injuries in recent weeks, and it felt fitting that they reached 40 points with a performance that was not sparkling but reflected entirely the very best of the qualities they have shown this season. They suffered, they ran until they couldn't go any further, they threw bodies on the line and defended the box like their careers depended on it. There was snobbery in some quarters about the manner of their win afterwards, but trying tell an absolutely jubilant away end that this wasn't entertaining. This was about as good as it gets for them, a team reflecting their passion with backs firmly against the wall. How could anyone watch Omar Alderete and Dan Ballard repel attack after attack in the final 20 minutes and not be entertained? It was pretty ugly at times but that's not to say it wasn't impressive or enthralling in its own way. Were Sunderland fortunate to win? Yes, and particularly as the hosts clearly should have had a penalty when Luke O'Nien fouled Pascal Struijk in the first half. Sunderland weren't lucky to come away with a positive result, though, and that's to their immense credit. With injuries piling up and after arguably their most disappointing performance of the season to date against Fulham, Sunderland have dug in and competed tenaciously in two difficult away games. It sums up perfectly why and how they have managed to surpass all expectations and all but secure safety with nine games of the campaign still to play. Sunderland fans won't worry too much about the outside noise - they love this group of players and nights like these demonstrate exactly why.

Leeds have some fair gripes around time wasting - but only have themselves to blame for a poor display

It's undoubtedly true that Sunderland pushed the dark arts to the edge to get over the line here, and football has a genuine problem with the way clubs consistently exploit the rules around goalkeepers not having to leave the field of play after receiving treatment on the pitch. It's not a good look when Sunderland do it, when any other club does it, and ultimately it is the fans who are paying more and more every year who lose out. Farke has been consistent in his criticism of it, and was fully entitled to show his frustration here even if kept his thoughts largely to himself after the game.

To say that Sunderland won this game because of gamesmanship, however, is an assessment almost entirely detached from the reality. Sunderland slowed the game down when the opportunity presented and their various restarts were laboured - no doubt about that. The thing is, so were Leeds United's. Every throw in near the Sunderland box was launched in, taking time out of the game to get their centre halves up the pitch. If they ran out of time to get something out of the game in the end, then perhaps they might reflect on a starting XI which left some of their most dynamic attacking threats on the bench in a game where both of Sunderland's full backs were out of position. If the first half was tepid, that was partly down to Leeds struggling to bring the right level of intensity to the game and spending much of the half circulating the ball between their three centre halves. Sunderland fans were left mightily impressed by the creative Ao Tanaka last season and at the Stadium of Light in December - where was he here? There was some cynical stuff from Sunderland in this game and it would be wrong to suggest otherwise, but it would be too convenient for Leeds to reflect solely on that. This was a huge opportunity for the hosts given Sunderland's injury issues and they simply didn't do enough.

Defensive duo give Sunderland big grounds for optimism

There are a lot of factors in Sunderland's impressive revival from those three consecutive league defeats, but the most obvious would be the resurgence of Omar Alderete. He has produced two towering defensive performances, suggesting he is now fully out the other side of some issues with fatigue and a minor foot injury. Alderete might cause some nervous gasps amongst Sunderland supporters on the ball, but his side need him to try and play out and get past the press if they are to avoid simply gifting the ball straight back to the opposition. In this form, his defensive work absolutely speaks for itself. You can look at XG and a variety of metrics and not unreasonably say that Sunderland have been a little fortunate over the course of the season so far, and that they have to improve on the ball in the long run. Equally, you simply have to acknowledge they recognised the paramount of importance of recruiting good defenders capable of withstanding pressure last summer. Alderete has been an inspirational but of business.

The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC Channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join our SAFC WhatsApp channel.

Luke O'Nien enjoys one of the moments of the season

The aforementioned away end were in no mood to rush for home at the final whistle, with the songs and celebrations carrying on long past Luke O'Nien and Granit Xhaka's post-match media commitments on the pitch. Though he had been a little fortunate with that penalty decision, O'Nien had an excellent game and particularly in the second half when he shut down his flank with impressive poise. The respect in which he is held was obvious as staff basked in watching him celebrate with the away end, before was then congratulated by his team mates for his efforts when he returned to the dressing room.

It was a fitting end to an almost perfect night for Sunderland, the only downside being another injury to Bertrand Traore. Sunderland fear he could have suffered a recurrence of his recent knee injury, which sidelined him for around six weeks. That would be a major blow and though they remain hopeful that Brobbey, Mukiele, Roefs, Reinildo and co will be back in time, the Tyne-Wear derby looms large with big injury issues persisting.

Your next Sunderland read: Phil Smith’s Sunderland player ratings from Leeds United win