Turgid football and borderline relegation form: Sunderland are sleepwalking towards mediocrity

Sunderland's trip to Gillingham was not one of them.

Indeed, the defeat at Priestfield needs to act as a stark warning. The Black Cats are sleepwalking towards another season in League One - and something needs to change.

THE POSITIVES

We'll start on a bright note because, although there were a host of concerning factors to discuss, there was one big positive: Brandon Taylor.

Thrust into the first-team fold due to injuries and absences, Taylor stood up to the task admirably.

Indeed, he contributed to a much-improved defensive performance on the whole. Phil Parkinson’s switch to a back five may have raised some eyebrows before the game but they looked solid throughout.

Lee Burge was merely a spectator for most of the game and that is a testament to those in front of him – Taylor, Ozturk and De Bock all performing well, even if the latter was arguably lucky to remain on the pitch in extra-time.

Now, Gillingham weren’t exactly pulling up any trees and the Black Cats will face some far more stern tests throughout the season, but given the cobbled-together nature of Sunderland’s backline their performance can be viewed with some positivity.

THE STATS DON'T LIE

It's often levied that stats can be twisted in football, distorted to suit an agenda or prove a point.

But there was no hiding from the stats at Priestfield.

Zero shots on target.

Two wins from the last nine.

The club's earliest FA Cup exit since the 1920s.

Out of all three cup competitions before the end of November.

That last point could be viewed as a good thing if the Black Cats are wanting to get out of the third tier, but it’s the first two statistics that should have the alarm bells sounding.

A team containing Will Grigg, Duncan Watmore, Chris Maguire, Luke O’Nien and, latterly, Aiden McGeady should not be struggling to fashion a shot on target.

Sunderland offered zero quality, zero creativity and nothing resembling an attacking spark at Gillingham.

The Black Cats have now scored just twice in their last four games, and that’s another statistic that can’t be twisted. It’s nowhere near good enough.

And a run of two wins in nine games is bordering on relegation form. Now, this reporter isn’t for a minute suggesting the Wearsiders are in any danger of relegation from League One – far from it – but that kind of form can’t be hidden from.

Many of those games were in cup competitions meaning there has been little adverse effect on Sunderland’s league standing, but results simply have to improve.

CLARITY IS NEEDED

It's been something of a buzzword at the Stadium of Light - particularly in regards to off-field matters - but some clarity is now needed on the field.

We're nine games into Parkinson's reign and it's still unclear what his preferred system and style of play is.

Now that's not necessarily a bad thing. Versatility, particularly in the third tier where opposition can vary in approaches, can be seen as a positive.

But Sunderland seem to have no clear plan in an attacking sense.

Defensively, they were as good as they have looked all season for large parts – but their attacking play lacked any form of clear plan.

At times, the Sunderland plan of attack seemed to be: win back possession; go long; watch on as Duncan Watmore and Will Grigg chase a hopeless long ball; repeat.

Sunderland’s football was dismal, dire and as bad as it has been during their time in League One.

It spoke volumes that there were audible groans at the prospect of extra-time, with supporters far from enthused from an additional 30 minutes of turgid football.

That goes for both sides, with neither outfit really displaying any form of quality for the most part.

The difference was, though, that Gillingham had a clear plan and an outlet in Brandon Hanlan who, having come close throughout the evening, wriggled into a pocket of space and executed a fine finish.

Sunderland seemed to have no such strategy in place and it spoke volumes that their best efforts came via an attempted cross from Max Power and a shot on the spin from Grigg, in what was the closest they came to a moment of individual brilliance.

Performances like this cannot be allowed to become the norm; such mediocrity is unacceptable for a club of Sunderland’s size with the squad they possess.

SO, WHERE DO SUNDERLAND GO FROM HERE?

Let's be clear - Parkinson needs time at the Stadium of Light.

While some on social media will doubtless be calling for his head after ten games, some patience is required.

There are mitigating factors to consider too. Injuries have deprived Parkinson of some of his better players and, due to a hectic fixture schedule and international duty, he's yet to have a full week on the training ground with his entire squad.

He also hasn’t had the luxury of a transfer window yet, and January looks to becoming more and more crucial by the week.

Another change in manager is certainly not the answer and if Parkinson can get the Black Cats firing – as he did at Bolton – then he is more than capable of leading the club to promotion.

Those factors don't excuse the fact that results and performances have been far from good enough for a club of Sunderland's stature though, and that fact won't be lost on the club's manager.

But nothing is won or lost in November, and Parkinson will be confident of turning the tide and spearheading a surge up the table.

A win against Coventry on Saturday would be a good start, and it now seems like a must if the new manager is to win over an already drifting fanbase.