What Phil Parkinson said about his surprise Sunderland selection after more points are dropped at Fleetwood

Parkinson had reverted to a 3-4-3 system for the 1-1 draw with Doncaster Rovers, but an ankle injury to Lynden Gooch left a vacancy to be filled.

The Black Cats boss opted against selecting an attacking midfielder, with Elliot Embleton and Jack Diamond unused substitutes.

Graham instead formed a partnership with Charlie Wyke as Sunderland went for a direct style against Joey Barton’s Fleetwood.

"I just felt that with a tight pitch, the crosses we've been getting into the box, we just needed more of a threat," Parkinson said.

“I thought Danny did well tonight. He worked hard, he was a good foil for Charlie. I just knew what type of game it would be. They get the ball forward quickly, they put you under pressure quickly. They're not a team who roll it out and have a lot of possession in their own half.

“I just felt we needed that presence and I thought they showed that in the first half.”

The game followed a frustratingly familiar pattern for supporters, with Sunderland controlling the first half without forging any clear opportunities.

They then ceded a lead for the third game in succession, with Fleetwood finishing the game the stronger of the two sides.

Parkinson conceded that his side had not created enough to match their play in the first half, but insisted that the balance was ‘about right’.

“I think that's fair,” he said.

“But we were very comfortable in the first half. We got the balance of our play about right. With those two up front you've obviously got the option of going into them and we did that, but we played some good football as well.

“Grant was instrumental again.

“But the difference in games comes in both boxes and we'll look at those balls into the box. We probably should have got on the end of one of those in the first half.

“Charlie gets on the end of a ball in the second, and his goal deserves a bit more of a mention because it was a brave header. He's been braver than the goalkeeper.

“Credit to Charlie for that.”

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