JACK ROSS was delighted with the resilience that enabled Sunderland to claim a 2-0 win at Shrewsbury Town – even if he conceded his side were not always at their best as they climbed back to third in the League One table.

The Black Cats struggled for most of the first half at Montgomery Waters Meadow, with Shrews midfielder Shaun Whalley hitting the crossbar from a free-kick.

However, they dug deep when they had to, with Tom Flanagan and Jack Baldwin impressing at the heart of the back four, and turned on the style in the second half.

Sunderland broke the deadlock when Omar Beckles put Lynden Gooch’s cross through his own net, and made their win safe with six minutes left when Luke O’Nien scored his first goal since a summer move from Wycombe Wanderers.

Ross said: “There were bits of today that pleased me more than when we have played better just because we were getting better at doing the other side of the game that you need to do in this league. We showed that again. It wasn't an easy game.

"We toughed it out, kept a clean sheet and that was important, it gave us a platform. We would always show glimpses of quality, the goals scored were good quality. It helps strengthen their belief and getting that reward from playing in that manner was important.

“You enjoy each and every win, make sure the players enjoy them regardless how they come around.  The point you make is those performances at home we know we are capable of doing that, these are the ones people would have question marks over it, not because we are not capable, because it was a big adjustment for them. We are showing we are capable.

“Burton was a watershed for us in that respect. Post that game away from home, we have been a lot more resilient.”

The defeat at Burton remains Sunderland’s only setback, and Ross was especially pleased with his side’s defensive display as they saw off a Shrewsbury side that spent most of last season pushing for promotion.

Shrewsbury enjoyed plenty of possession before Sunderland broke the deadlock, but Jon McLaughlin did not have too many difficult moments as the Black Cats’ back four snuffed out most of their opponents’ threat.

Ross said: “We do a lot of work defensively, and John (Potter) and James (Fowler) particularly with the defensive unit. We have been frustrated and they have. We haven’t been cut open, our general defending has been good.

“It was just we made individual mistakes and conceded poor goals at times. Our general shape and play is good, it is just that last bit. I’m pleased the back four have their reward in the shape of a clean sheet.”

Ross was also delighted to see O’Nien finding the back of the net, with the substitute rounding off a slick counter-attacking move that also involved Gooch and Chris Maguire.

He said: “He has been an interesting one for us, he is still very young and the transition he has made to Sunderland, I have been pleased how he has settled in.

“I think he went through a period where he was overthinking. He even came away from doing the things he normally did well in training, we had a chat and he has trained really well this past fortnight.

“He has been back to what he does best. The thing about him is he is a fine finisher, he works so hard at it. When he gets in to those positions most of us expected him to score. I am delighted for him from a personal point of view.

“He is a young man who has made a big jump and he will now feel properly at home now he has made that contribution.”