Sunderland beat League One rivals Portsmouth at the Stadium of Light with Jordan Willis and Chris Maguire scoring for Jack Ross’s side.
They might not be Neymar, Suarez and Messi, or Salah, Mane and Firmino, but Sunderland’s ‘Triple M’ forward line should have the talent and skill to rip League One defences apart.
For the first time under Jack Ross, Chris Maguire, Aiden McGeady and Marc McNulty started to glimpses of their potential during a much-needed win against promotion rivals Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
After Jordan Willis cancelled out Marcus Harness’ opener with a header John Terry would have been proud of, McNulty and McGeady linked up to create the winning goal for Maguire late in the first-half.
Speaking to Pompey’s official website after the game, Ross’s opposite number Kenny Jackett has admitted that the quality and guile of Sunderland’s front three made the difference in a typically tight encounter.
“It was frustrating because we started well and were on top in both halves, getting the important first goal,” Jackett said. “But then we conceded from a corner and that brought the crowd into play. Those set-pieces are so vital and it was poor from our point of view.
“The second one was a quality goal after picking up a second ball – they have those flashes from the likes of McGeady, McNulty and Maguire.”
On their day, mercurial talents McGeady and Maguire can be the two best footballers anywhere in the third tier of English football. Summer signing McNulty, meanwhile, already looks an upgrade on the ineffective Will Grigg with his infections work-rate and impressive first touch catching the eye.
There really is no excuse for Ross’s side to look blunt in the final third in the months to come.
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