Sunderland drew 0-0 against Bristol City in the Championship on Saturday.
Sunderland were back at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon, where they hosted Bristol City.
The Black Cats were looking for a reaction after that 5-1 defeat vs Blackburn Rovers on Easter Monday, and Mike Dodds got one.
Sunderland started strongly and looked much hungrier and determined than vs Blackburn.
They had chances to take the lead in the first half and Jack Clarke should arguably have taken one of those chances, in what was his return to the XI.
Pierre Ekwah was another standout performer in the first half, though the Black Cats were a little slower after the break.
The second half was less entertaining. But after that Blackburn defeat, Sunderland and Dodds will certainly take a point and a clean sheet.
Mike Dodds Sunderland team selection
Dodds’ team selections, tactics and substitutions have all been called into question in recent weeks.
Last time out vs Blackburn, Dodds was questioned for bringing Clarke on at 4-0 down in the second half, and there was one or two surprises with his selection for Bristol City.
One was Abdoullah Ba being left out of the matchday squad entirely.
The Frenchman has certainly been a divisive player in recent weeks, though starting Luis Hemir and Mason Burstow on the bench in favour of Ba, unless he’s carrying an injury, is questionable.
Journalist James Copley also highlighted Tom Watson‘s exclusion from the side.
The 17-year-old has bee turning heads at the Academy of Light and there’s growing calls to promote the Clarke-like winger.
Copley posted on X:
Mike Dodds needs to experiment with team selection
Although Dodds has said specifically that he won’t be experimenting with this Sunderland side in the final weeks of the season, it might do the club some good.
A new manager will come in over the summer and they’ll take the time to look at every player anyway.
But if Dodds can put a few more players, Watson in particular, and maybe some of the club’s other young stars, it could give the next manager a bit more to work with.
Sunderland will surely look to promote some more youth players next season after having success with Chris Rigg.
And Watson certainly looks like another star in the making and like Copley says, there’s not much more he can do to get into contention.
It’s ultimately down to Dodds, though right now he seems more focussed on results during this tough run of form.
With little to play for though, maybe handing a few minutes to Watson isn’t the worst idea.
Latest on next Sunderland manager
Paul Heckingbottom is Sunderland’s no.1 target ahead of the summer, per recent reports, and the former Sheffield United boss has been tipped to potentially take the job, should he be offered it.
Elsewhere, former Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe has declared his interest in the job, though fans don’t seem to keen on the experienced Defoe taking the reins.
Up next for Sunderland is a trip to Leeds United on Tuesday.