This is why Phil Parkinson was so impressed with Bailey Wright's home Sunderland debut

Phil Parkinson hailed his ‘excellent’ central defenders with Bailey Wright producing a superb home debut performance, with Jordan Willis and Tom Flanagan excellent alongside him.

Flanagan was in for Joel Lynch, missing with a rib injury with the club also following the concussion protocol after he was taken from the pitch on a stretcher against Portsmouth.

Chris Maguire will have the headlines after his brilliant strike nine minutes from time to win it for Sunderland but the defence are worthy of praise too following another shut-out.

Parkinson said: “I was very pleased for the lads at the back, the back three were excellent.

“In that period in the first half, when we were not at our best, concentration levels have to be right.

“You have to come through that period unscathed so when you play better it is not 1-0 down but still 0-0 and that is what you saw.”

Wright, on loan for the season from Bristol City, was making his home debut and starred.

Parkinson added: “Bailey brings what you saw; good decision making, leadership quality, calmness under pressure.”

Sunderland moved up to sixth with the victory, the promotion battle in League One fierce with several clubs in the hunt for a top two spot.

The Black Cats host Rochdale at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday evening.