Sunderland may have to change their system to fix defensive issues

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John O’Shea endured a rotten afternoon at Bristol City, and his manager must ensure the same does not happen again.

Sunderland may have shown great spirit to fight back to draw 3-3 with Bristol City on Saturday, but there is no doubt that the second half at Ashton Gate merely papered over the cracks.

Chris Coleman’s side must now build on that point and some changes will have to be made.

Most importantly of all, the Black Cats manager should surely be looking at the 5-3-2 system he has consistently favoured, a formation that left his side so exposed at the weekend.

The defensive set-up intends to protect John O’Shea in the centre of a five-man back line but, when Bristol City attacked at pace, that became a three-man defence.

And O’Shea was horribly exposed by the pace of the opposition attack, with the two youngsters – Tyias Browning and Jake Clarke-Salter – either side of him lacking the experience to cover for their captain.

In theory, the system should put more defenders around O’Shea and give him the support he requires as a one-paced veteran, but Sunderland are too often stretched as they chase priceless points and so that is simply not the case.

Coleman seems set on the 5-3-2, but it simply has not worked for him. A back four might.

And, given Sunderland’s limited options, that would allow Coleman to mix up the front line as well, bringing wingers into the side.

It is a drastic change, but the Black Cats’ current situation requires one. Time is running out and no stone must be left unturned in the bid to find a winning formula at long last.