How it played out as Sunderland are held to another draw at Fleetwood Town

Charlie Wyke had pounced on a defensive error to give his side the lead early in the second half, but Callum Connolly’s strike meant that the points were shared after a tense contest.

It leaves Sunderland still searching for their first win against Fleetwood since dropping into League One, and with just two wins in their last nine games across all competitions.

They are five points off Peterborough United in second place, having played a game less.

Hull City are seven points clear of the Black Cats, who sit seventh in the table.

It had looked set to be a crucial game for Phil Parkinson, and the stalemate will only increase the pressure further ahead of two home games against struggling Burton Albion and Wigan Athletic this week.

A return to the 3-4-3 system had brought some encouraging play at Doncaster, even if the end result was one of major frustration.

A subsequent injury to Lynden Gooch had left Parkinson with a big decision to make and his call was revealing a to what was to follow.

The Black Cats boss opted not to hand Elliot Embleton his first league start of the season, instead calling on Danny Graham to join Wyke up top. Unsurprisingly, Sunderland’s approach was to get the ball forward quickly.

It made for an open and scrappy start, both sides turning over possession with regularity.

It was the hosts who forged the first meaningful effort, though Remi Matthews was comfortable as he dove to his right to stop a long-range volley from wing-back Danny Andrew.

Sunderland looked threatening, and drew a fine stop from Jayson Leutwiler with nine minutes on the board. Wyke held the ball up well with his back to goal, teeing up Denver Hume. Hume drove into the box and hit his effort cleanly, Leutwiler making a strong block with his leg.

The Black Cats continued to press and were twice denied by superb defending from Tom Edwards.

The defender did superbly to tackle Wyke as he prepared to fire from inside the box, before making an excellent covering header at the back post as Luke O’Nien sent in a dangerous cross.

In truth, tough, that early threat dissipated somewhat. Sunderland continued to enjoy the majority of both possession and territory, but struggled to carve out clear openings.

Fleetwood were increasingly comfortable clearing crosses and set pieces out of their area, Sunderland threatening only when Josh Scowen and Chris Maguire had efforts from range blocked.

The hosts were making little attacking impression themselves, Matthews a bystander after that early save from Andrew.

Sunderland’s goalkeeper was relieved to see one deflection flash past his post, with Bailey Wright turning a wicked free-kick from Charlie Mulgrew wide.

The host’s struggles in open play forced a half-time substitution, with Ched Evans introduced in place of attacking midfielder Josh Morris.

The rewards were almost instant. Callum Camps rattled the crossbar with an outrageous volley, catching Matthews off guard as he met a dipping ball first time. Paddy Madden won the second ball and despite being just yards out, Evans could only nudge an effort into the arms of Matthews.

Sunderland responded well, Wyke heading a cross from the right flank just wide of the far post.

The introduction of Evans had opened up the game somewhat, and Fleetwood felt they should have had a penalty as Evans went down under a challenge from McLaughlin.

Their protests were furious and ultimately costly, as the Black Cats pounced on a lack of concentration.

Flanagan launched a clearance down the centre of the pitch, and a moment of hesitation between defender and goalkeeper proved key.

Wyke was alert, getting between the two and heading the loose ball into the far corner.

Sunderland were bouyed by the goal, but their lead last little more than ten minutes as the hosts came back strongly.

Wright had done superbly to block a goalbound effort from Wes Burns, but could not clear a cross that came as the resulting corner was recycled. The loose ball fell for Connolly, who thumped the ball into the bottom corner with relish.

It was the home side who did the majority of the running in the final 20 minutes, though in truth neither goalkeeper was tested again.

The draw was a fair result for a contest in which neither side were able to really dominate for long periods.

For Sunderland, another draw brought all too familiar frustration.

Sunderland XI: Matthews; McLaughlin, Wright, Flanagan; O’Nien, Leadbitter, Scowen, Hume (McFadzean, 87); Maguire (Power, 87), Graham (Grigg, 70) Wyke

Subs: Burge, Sanderson, Embleton, Diamond

Fleetwood Town XI: Leutwiler; Edwards, Connolly, Mulgrew; Burns (McKay, 74), Rossiter (Coutts, 74), Finley (Whelan, 80), Andrew; Camps, Morris (Evans, 45), Madden (Duffy, 74)

Subs: Cairns, Whelan, Hill

Bookings: Morris, 6 Scowen, 23 Andrew, 47 Whelan, 89