Sunderland rescued a point this week during their match against Fleetwood. Max Power scored a goal in the 96th minute to achieve a point in their pursuit of automatic promotion. The Black Cats are just three points off first place with 11 matches left to play. There is still plenty of time for them to climb to the top of the league.
However, Fleetwood’s manager, Joey Barton, doesn’t believe that Sunderland’s style of football is worthy of promotion. He thinks his seventh-placed Fleetwood side play a more attractive brand of football.
The ex-Newcastle player claims that Phil Parkinson’s team play ‘punt football’ with Kyle Lafferty and Charlie Wyke playing up top.
Roker Report published an article highlighting exactly why Sunderland were, in fact, the better team.
When the fan account posted their article on Twitter, Sunderland fans admitted that Barton was probably just looking for publicity. They don’t care what he has to say and encourage fans not to give him the time of day. Another admits that he needs to check his facts.
https://twitter.com/ileyACAB/status/1233009787090194435
This bloke must really love us, he never shuts up about us.
— Tony Riley (@Tonyriley1972) February 27, 2020
Just ignore him …..he thrives on publicity
— Barrie Waller (@barrie_waller) February 27, 2020
don’t dignify his trolling with a response!
— Indy Saha (@IndySaha) February 27, 2020
Needs to know his facts before he starts talking rubbish
— Josh Gibson (@JoshGib76204214) February 27, 2020
played five minutes until the goal, then played about 10 minutes of the remaining 85 and wasted time for the rest of the game. Thoroughly deserved to lose the game , but then Sunderland didn’t do enough to win it!
— Stephen Fenwick (@fenwick_stephen) February 27, 2020
Do you think there is any truth in what Barton is saying?
Maybe a little
Not a chance
What do we think?
While Barton appears to be talking the talk, Phil Parkinson is walking the walk. Sunderland have only lost one match in their last 15. In those 15 games, they have scored 22 goals and conceded just seven.
Even if Sunderland’s football isn’t the most attractive, fans will surely just be happy to see the side winning.