Sunderland enhanced their reputation as League One’s draw specialists following a difficult start to the season at the Stadium of Light.
Jack Ross’ side drew nineteen games last season as they fell short of promotion and after a penalty from Lynden Gooch cancelled out Tarique Fosu’s Oxford opener, the result had an all too familiar ring to it for Black Cat supporters.
Despite dominating possession, sloppy passing, a lack of bite in front of goal and defensive frailty remained from last season even though Ross has largely remodelled the side that lost to Charlton in the playoff final in May.
It is fair to say the result was not received well by many supporters on social media, who picked up on frustrating similarities from last season and criticised the manager’s negative tactics.
The pressure already seems to be mounting on Ross who somehow needs to get his side turning draws into wins if the criticism is not going to reach a boiling point and cost him his job.
Here is a selection of responses to the news on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/Turtle76462214/status/1157711253894238209?s=20
Denver Hume out, will Grigg out formation change please
— Jake Davison (@JakeDavison15) August 3, 2019
Ah yes, I've missed these 1-1 draws. It's been a long summer without them!
— Bowron (@ChrisBowron) August 3, 2019
When will the Scottish clown be sacked. Nothing different from last season. Same players, same manager, same results. Doesn’t take a genius to work out the problems 😡
— Jonathan Clark (@JonathanClark99) August 3, 2019
Should have bet the house on 1-1. Standard. Not good enough.
— Simon Hetherington (@SimonJHeth) August 3, 2019
Ross had too much time for me. Time to change….
— Paul Macpherson (@macpherson_p) August 3, 2019
Clueless
— Dan Hume (@danhume16) August 3, 2019
sack him
— Liam (@LB01__) August 3, 2019
Absolutely abysmal ! When is Jack Ross going to be questioned for his negative dull tactics and football ?
— Jamie Collin (@coldfoot80) August 3, 2019
Rescued by a penalty. Are we racing to fill the 3rd relegation spot? (Bury & Bolton already bottom on -12 points for being almost bankrupt)
— John Dunne ♿👨🏻🦼💙 (@safc4ever) August 3, 2019
You will not win anything with free transfers
These players aren’t good enough for there clubs but good enough enough for sunderland we are a shambles