Sunderland claimed a massive win in their fight for survival.
While some significant winless runs can prove to have no relevance to a player’s quality – Gareth Bale had to wait 25 games before his first win in a Tottenham shirt – for Sunderland fans, Jack Rodwell’s run was just another reminder of how badly they were struggling.
Chris Sutton reacts on Twitter to Sunderland win against Crystal Palace
The midfielder had not enjoyed a win in a Premier League game he had started following his move to Sunderland in 2015, and that 37-game run was surely a massive concern for Black Cats supporters as their survival hopes began to look bleaker with each draw or defeat.
Sunderland’s Jack Rodwell reacts
And David Moyes’ men would have known going into Saturday’s clash with Crystal Palace that losing against their relegation rivals would have dealt their hopes of staying up a blow that they may struggle to recover from.
Sunderland fans inside Selhurst Park would have certainly been forgiven for fearing the worst simply because Rodwell’s name was included in the starting line-up.
However, the Black Cats were fantastic against Palace, claiming a 4-0 victory to not only take them within touching distance of getting their heads above water, but to also end the former Manchester City man’s wait for a victory in a league game he had started.
Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha in action with Sunderland’s Jack Rodwell
Unfortunately for the midfielder, he had to come off injured early on in the second-half when the score was already 4-0. But he will still surely reflect on the occasion positively, and the team may look back on the game as a turning point.
Sunderland fans will be hoping for better times ahead
As much as Sunderland and the player himself may deny that the run itself had any impact on the morale, the fact that it has now been put to bed will surely benefit their chances of beating the drop as it is one less negative talking point Moyes needs to worry about.
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