Player Ratings: Sunderland 1-0 Swindon - Big Charlie Wyke heads home to send us up the table!

Lee Burge: 7/10

Didn’t have a great deal to do, but crucially when he was called upon, he was decisive. Burge raced off his line to make a one-on-one save after barely being troubled for the first 70 minutes of action.

Max Power: 5/10

Summed up Sunderland’s performance overall - there were some great passes and clever touches, but mainly just a lot of sloppy indecisive play.

Dion Sanderson: 7/10

Seemed to be constantly looking for a balance between being progressive and trying to do too much and take too many risks. He never quite got the balancing act right in the first half.

Sanderson was better after the break and arguably a more effective passer than either of our central midfielders.

Luke O’Nien: 7/10

Defended well and battled all game, his positioning remains an understandable weak point. But, considering this is still a relatively alien position for him, Luke’s increasing comfort, especially bringing the ball out from the left channel was seriously impressive.

Callum McFadzean: 4/10

Remember when we played Crewe on Saturday and McFadzean was inconceivably bad? This wasn’t that much better. McFadzean still gives away possession way too much with nowhere near enough thought.

Carl Winchester: 7/10

It’s to remember many instances when Winchester gave the ball away, you’d like to see him be more positive more often, but this was a solid return to the starting 11.

Josh Scowen: 7/10

Got through loads of defensive work especially during a lacklustre first 10 minutes from his teammates. His ability to win 50-50s and draw free kicks, spared a lot of his teammates’ blushes after hospital passes.

As a pair he and Winchester frustrated with their caution and reluctance to play early forward passes.

Jordan Jones: 6/10

Didn’t look as comfortable as he has in recent dazzling cameos, but still showed moments of real class. His deflected shot midway through the first-half was arguably Sunderland’s best effort of that period.

Aiden McGeady: 6/10

One of those games where McGeady appears to be going through the motions, he gave the ball away a tonne before half-time.

He did improve after half-time, but his best attempts to make the breakthrough either went ignored or were well-defended by a resilient Swindon side.

Lynden Gooch: 6/10

The one Sunderland player who looked confident and clear-minded in their role from the off. Gooch created our best chance of the first half setting up Charlie Wyke, after burning past Jonathan Grounds.

Although Gooch was a constant threat with his pace all evening, he squandered big chances and was less effective when switched to a more central role. He squandered one brilliant chance, underhitting a cutback after Sanderson released him.

Charlie Wyke: 7/10

Ended his mini goal drought with an outstanding header. Wyke was far from at his best, but crucially fired Sunderland ahead.

(SUB) Aiden O’Brien: 5/10

Didn’t contribute a lot good or bad in 30 minutes.

(SUB) Chris Maguire: 7/10

Did what he was brought on to do and that was put in exceptional set plays. His free kick was whipped in with real force inviting Wyke to flick home.

(SUB) Jack Diamond: n/a

Brought on in the 90th minute to ease pressure and provide an outlet to an increasing nervous looking Sunderland team.

(SUB) Dan Neil: n/a

Brought on with a minute left to waste time.

Man of the Match

Dion Sanderson