It is the time of year where every game is a big game for Sunderland – and for once for the right reasons. Relegation-threatened Rochdale away certainly fitted that category.

With Aiden McGeady not travelling after the whack he took to his ankle at Accrington Stanley on Wednesday, the examination was that bit tougher.

For long periods it looked like the Wearsiders might drop points, but in the end it turned out to be a very good day at the end of a good week for them. And there was no shortage of talking points...

A huge week for Sunderland

We all wondered how the Black Cats would respond after the disappointment of losing a penalty shoot-out at Wembley, and the answer was just what supporters would have wanted.

If the win at Accrington Stanley was reassuringly comfortable, the victory over Rochdale was pleasingly characterful.

Promotion battles are invariably just that, and it was a hard-fought afternoon for the visitors.

Most importantly, they ended their week with six more points.

With top two Luton Town and Barnsley both losing in the first half, it looked like Sunderland might waste an opportunity when Ian Henderson put Dale in front with his 19th goal of the season.

Barnsley pulling the scoreline at Burton Albion back to 2-1 while the Black Cats were still toiling at 1-1 looked ominous, but it all turned out well in the end.

George Honeyman popped up with an 89th-minute winner for Sunderland, Burton got a third goal, and although the Hatters’ preserved their long unbeaten run with an 86th-minute equaliser at home to Blackpool, ground was made up on them.

Sunderland are now level on points with Barnsley, whose goal difference is one better. They have two games in hand on the Tykes, one of which is at home to Burton on Tuesday. They will be looking forward to that now.

Away fans in the majority

With 3,378 supporters in a crowd of 6,546, Sunderland fans actually outnumbered Rochdale’s in a match which meant a lot to the in-form hosts to as they continued to fight against relegation in their first match since Brian Barry-Murphy was appointed full-time manager.

They made their presence felt as well...

Sunderland fans during the Sky Bet League One match between Rochdale and Sunderland
Sunderland fans during the Sky Bet League One match between Rochdale and Sunderland

Great support for Charlie Wyke

Sunderland fans recognised the need to get behind Wyke, who played well at Accrington Stanley, but as a centre-forward without one, he needed a goal at kick-off. He has it now.

Wyke responded well to being serenaded by the visiting fans in the stand opposite the tunnel and around the corner.

He held the ball up well and his 15th-minute header from a Lynden Gooch cross led to Will Grigg’s stab at goal, which was saved.

It took until the second half before he got his reward, holding off his man when Denver Hume played the ball into his feet, turning and finding the net.

It was reward not only for those supporters, but for another good performance from the Teessider.

Charlie Wyke celebrates after scoring
Charlie Wyke celebrates after scoring

Team sheet sends a message

Manager Jack Ross is always very firm on the fact that if players come into the side and perform, they will keep their places, and he stuck to his word at Spotland.

Lewis Morgan for the injured Aiden McGeady was the only change from the team which won 3-0 at Accrington Stanley in midweek.

It meant captain Honeyman had to settle for a place on the bench – albeit not for as long as the Black Cats might have liked – and Grant Leadbitter also had to watch from the sidelines.

Leaving Honeyman and Leadbitter on the bench sent out a good message about there being no favourites when Ross sits down to pick his teams.

And it was not as though Honeyman was unable to make an impact, coming off the bench to score Sunderland’s 89th-minute equaliser.

Video Loading

From plenty of wingers to just the one

March was a question of which winger to leave out, with Morgan making a positive impact since arriving on loan from Celtic.

But with McGeady left out with an ankle injury, Sod’s Law dictated that Gooch crumpled in a heap after half-an-hour into the game. Given Morgan’s habit of fading early in the second halves of his start, it was an ominous sight.

With no specialist winger on the bench – although Bryan Oviedo often plays like one – it was left to Honeyman to be the round peg in the square hole on the right wing.

By the time Morgan came off, after 61 minutes, Oviedo had already replaced Hume and Kazaiah Sterling was used as an auxiliary winger.

Despite that, Sunderland worked hard to get crosses in during the second half – such as Luke O’Nien’s for Honeyman’s winner.

A bit of McGeady magic might have made this hard-fought win a little more comfortable but getting three points without having to take anything more out of his tank represents a great day’s work