Tony Gillan: Sunderland need to go on the attack if they are to rescue promotion hopes after Bristol Rovers blow

If Coventry City don’t attain automatic promotion this season, it would be one of the more eye-catching cases of the yips we’ve ever witnessed.
Kyle Lafferty in action for Sunderland.Kyle Lafferty in action for Sunderland.
Kyle Lafferty in action for Sunderland.

It would also be one of the funniest, but you’re urged to not build up your hopes. The worst possible fate that might yet befall them would be to finish second. There aren’t enough games left for them to cock it up now.

They are where they deserve to be, leaving one remaining automatic promotion place and an exciting end of season for the seven teams between second and eighth places.

It’s been an interesting campaign.

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After 15 games, Ipswich Town were top and clear of the team in third by five points with two games in hand. They’re now 15 points from top.

After 20 games Wycombe Wanderers also looked unassailable. They aren’t finished yet, but now look like just another name in the hat.

After 30 games, Rotherham United were top and clear of third by seven points. They too may still be promoted automatically, but are five points from Coventry and not even certain of top six.

Conversely, when Oxford United lost at home to Sunderland only a month ago, it sent them down to 11th. They have since won five on the belt and play strugglers MK Dons next.

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I shall now contradict myself by pointing out that no one should assume anything, while simultaneously assuming that Coventry won’t finish below second.

That’s because we are now at what pundits, for reasons best known to themselves, call the “business end” of the season, which suggests that the points your team garnered back in August and September don’t count (I’m not sure they’re correct about this).

Anything can happen now. Unoriginal though that statement is, it would be a peculiar type of person who disagreed with it.

Not that this prevented one odd-bod from contacting a radio phone-in immediately after Sunderland’s ulcer-inducing draw with Gillingham.

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The gentleman in question pointed out – as a matter of fact rather than opinion – that Sunderland would be in the play-offs. Furthermore he “informed” everyone they would lose. He even told us who to.

Either this bloke is naive to the point of believing in clairvoyance or, more likely, he’s one of those people who never miss an opportunity to denigrate and dismiss anything to do with Sunderland (either AFC or the city of).

Possible play-offs aside, Phil Parkinson’s squad now have only eight remaining fixtures. If nothing else, it won’t be dull.

We should try to enjoy it. We almost certainly won’t, but we might as well try.

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To this end I feel that Sunderland should attack more: with tactics, selection and with certain individuals spending more time in the opposition penalty area.

Since Bailey Wright’s ankle was minced at Oxford, the team looks significantly less likely to keep a clean sheet. They might, but I’m not confident. Old habits.

This means trying to outscore the opposition (every game involves trying to out-score the opposition, but you know what I mean). Don’t be scared. Get into them!

To end with a rubbish cliché: it’s going to be a rollercoaster ride.