Q: What did YOU make of Sunderland’s performance against MK Dons on Saturday afternoon?

Tom Albrighton says...

I thought that we gave a good performance in the first half - an edgy start, but we settled in well. Joel Lynch is the ball-playing, calm centre back we need - he reads the game well, and he releases pressure from Jordan Willis, who was also superb.

The midfield controlled the game in the first half, and overall it was a comfortable performance from Max Power and Dylan McGeouch.

In the second half it was, as is often the case, a different tale. Another mistake from Jon McLaughlin in goals invited MK Dons into the game, in which they never threatened. His lack of control in the area and floated distribution is a continual concern and, as his level dropped, so did just about everyone elses.

The balls up top became loose and floated to an isolated and poor Charlie Wyke. As we lost the battle up top, the midfield was once again negated as pressure set in, necessitating the long ball football we resent. Max Power and Dylan McGeouch did their best to regain control, and eventually cool heads at the back prevailed.

I’m sorry to say it, but the clear weak link in the side is now our goalkeeper. As previously questioned players have made the grade, Jon’s performances continue to be expensive.

Photo by Mark Fletcher/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Phil Butler says...

Saturday’s victory was a vital win for Jack Ross to make sure fans don’t see the midweek “giant killing” of Sheffield United as a total fluke. The first half was pretty much faultless and pretty much every player had a good game, and even those who didn’t - Charlie Wyke and Chris Maguire - were involved in the build up to Power’s stunning opener.

Laurens De Bock looked like a really good player at left back, and he seemed to have so much time on the ball playing - you can tell he was playing at a higher level when at Leeds and in Belgium. Lynch and Willis also look like a good partnership, with the former QPR man reminding me of an Alim Ozturk without the turning circle of a double-decker bus. Again, you can tell that Lynch has played at a higher level than League One.

However, the second half was poor again, and Jon McLaughlin is starting to concern me as he made another error - the calmness he displayed behind a error-prone defence last season seems to have left him, and now he seems to be the one at fault for the majority of Sunderland’s individual errors at the back this season.

Despite the negatives from the second half, the result was the most important thing, I’d sure take a few more 2-1 wins over the next few games to get us in those automatic promotion places. Just try and cut out the mistakes, Jon.

Photo by Sunderland AFC/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Sam Blakey says...

At the end of the day a win is a win, and ultimately we should be happy and move on to the next game. However it’s hard not to be slightly sceptical as it seems we make hard work of almost every game now, whilst teams around us are winning comfortably in a number of games with Ipswich, Wycombe, Fleetwood and Oxford all winning by three goals on Saturday.

Another questionable goal conceded by Jon McLaughlin could see Lee Burge start the game against Lincoln, and with Burge having a stand out game against Sheffield United maybe a start for him is warranted.

A positive from Saturday for me were the performances from Joel Lynch and Luke O’Nien in particular. O’Nien really impressed playing in the number ten role covering almost every blade of grass on the pitch, whilst Lynch showed his experience in certain situations calming down the back four very well. Like I said, a win is a win and now we move on to Lincoln and hopefully another three points. Ha’way the lads!