Parkinson pleased with Sunderland’s late show

Posted Wednesday, February 26, 2020 by PA

Phil Parkinson felt there was a sense of ‘poetic justice’ as Fleetwood’s time-wasting proved their undoing in a dramatic 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light.

Max Power struck in the sixth minute of stoppage time to cancel out Barrie McKay’s early opener and keep Sunderland within three points of the top of the League One table.

With McKay having opened the scoring in the opening five minutes, Fleetwood’s players spent much of the game taking as long as possible over set-pieces and goal-kicks, much to the frustration of the home support and the Sunderland coaching staff in the home dugout.

However, referee Scott Oldham added six minutes of stoppage time, and the added period was just about up when Power drove home from inside the area.

Parkinson said: “You always wonder whether the referee is going to be fair with the time he adds on. There was at least six minutes.

“I asked for 10, I’d probably have settled for eight. They (the Fleetwood bench) were going mad when he gave six – but I was a bit disappointed.

“Joking aside, if a team comes and does that, you’ve got to make sure that time is added on at the end. He did that.

“I was frustrated with what they were doing, but in football you do whatever it takes to win. That’s what they did. It’s a dog-eat-dog industry we’re in and you’ve got to do what it takes to win.

“Getting the goal intensified the way they set out to do things, but not allowing the frustration to get to us was key and I think in the main we kept moving the ball quickly and trying to do the right things.

“I’m happier when we’re more progressive in our play and pass and step in quicker. I like us to move the ball a bit sharper, and when we started doing that, we had them more stretched across the pitch. You felt the moment was going to come.”

Unsurprisingly, Fleetwood boss Joey Barton was much more frustrated at the way things panned out, although he remained full of praise for his side, who are now unbeaten in their last nine games.

Barton said: “I thought we were there. Six minutes stoppage time usually means six minutes stoppage time, but not today. We’re disappointed, but we dust ourselves down and go again.

“You have to give Sunderland credit – they kept fighting and pushing. The fanbase drive them on, and they got their rewards.

“They’re trying as hard as we are to win a football match, and sometimes it doesn’t go your way but it’s interesting for me to see Sunderland fans celebrating in the manner they did after drawing at home to Fleetwood Town.”

Former Newcastle midfielder Barton was happy to humour the Sunderland support after the final whistle.

He said: “I loved my time with Newcastle. I always enjoy the warm reception I get here, when I get off the coach and they say such kind words to me. It really warms the spirit!

“I appreciated all the fans coming over at the end to congratulate me, it was fantastic.

“We’re doing a great job with Fleetwood and it was nice for the Sunderland fans to appreciate that!”