JACK ROSS is delighted to see a “feel-good factor” returning to Sunderland, and has pledged to continue urging his players to attack in the wake of last night’s action-packed 4-1 win at Gillingham.

The Black Cats extended their unbeaten run to the League One season as they claimed their third win in the space of four matches in front of more than 2,000 delirious travelling fans at the Priestfield Stadium.

Having fallen behind to Tom Eaves’ third-minute header, Sunderland turned the game on its head in the space of 15 dramatic minutes as Chris Maguire, George Honeyman and Max Power all found the net.

Josh Maja made the points safe as he claimed his fourth goal in as many league games in the second half, and while Ross is understandably reluctant to get too carried away at such an early stage of the season, he is nevertheless delighted to have overseen such a successful start to life in the third tier.

Stewart Donald’s arrival as owner transformed the mood on Wearside at the start of the summer, and Sunderland’s performances in the last three weeks have helped maintain the sense of renewed optimism.

“There were a lot of things that needed to change, so in that sense, I suppose it was important we made a decent start,” said Ross. “I think with the way we’ve started, we’ve maybe started to get a bit of a feel-good factor going that hasn’t been here for a while.

“When I started here, I came in with a vision of what I wanted I to do, but the unpredictable nature of football, coupled with everything that’s happened here over the summer, made it difficult to predict how things with go.

“With that in mind, I’d have to say that things have gone really, really well in that respect. It’s just a starting point for us, and you have to be relentless to enjoy success at any level.

“If you watch us train and play, there’s an intensity and an enjoyment about it. We’ve got a group that buy into everything we do, and like everything, results have helped that massively.

“I’ve stressed to the players that they have to enjoy that reception at the end of the game. It’s a two-way thing, and they have to take enjoyment from it. They have to want to give the supporters something to cheer about, but they have to want to be on the other side of that too because it’s enjoyable.”

It was certainly an enjoyable night in Kent as Sunderland romped to their second three-goal win in the space of four days.

The speed and intensity of their attacking enabled them to cause a succession of problems to the Gillingham defence, and while they left themselves open on occasion as a result, Ross will continue to encourage his players to pour forward with freedom.

“There will be times when it won’t go well, because we are expansive and we do commit men forward,” he said. “That can mean you turn over possession, and there have been times, even in the home games, where we’ve done that.

“But the flip side of it is that you create opportunities and look a threat all the time going the other way. That’s why I can see a lot of games being like that this season. The way in which we play lends itself to that, along with the intensity of nights like tonight.”

The strength of Sunderland’s start has reduced some of the need to delve into the loan market ahead of next Friday’s deadline, and while Ross acknowledged an interest in Celtic youngster Ryan Christie, he admitted it will be difficult to complete any business until either Didier Ndong or Papy Djilobodji leaves.

“Ryan is a player that I like,” he said. “He has good qualities but again it is a balance between what we need in the squad. He is a left footer and we don't have a lot of them in the squad in forward areas. 

“He is a player that I am acutely aware of and he fits the kind of bracket in terms of he has played a lot of games for a young man.

“But at the moment we are where we are, and I don't envisage anything changing quickly. Might it depend on players leaving? Yes, possibly. That would obviously help us in terms of where we are with everything, not with Financial Fair Play, but in terms of where the league looks at us and the model we are trying to put forward.

“We have two, and although they are not here, they still have a contractual agreement with the club and could come back. So, yes, that (players leaving) would help.”

Ross confirmed that Bryan Oviedo missed last night’s game because of an injury issue rather than outside interest in his services, and while the full-back did not travel to Gillingham, he could yet link up with the squad ahead of Saturday’s game at AFC Wimbledon.