THIS might not have been the night when Sunderland moved into an automatic promotion place, it was still though another occasion when they showed their mettle to prove why they should last the course in the League One promotion race.

In front of almost 4,000 away fans at the Keepmoat Stadium, the Black Cats claimed a third consecutive away victory (and a fifth of the campaign) to keep the heat on the two clubs above them, Peterborough United and Portsmouth.

Sunderland certainly didn’t have it all their own way against a Doncaster Rovers team which has slipped out of the play-off places following this 1-0 defeat.

What Jack Ross’ side did do, however, was manage the game well, particularly after taking the lead less than two minutes into the second half.

Both teams had chances before and after Chris Maguire’s winner but neither side was able to alter the scoreline, so Sunderland pulled picked up a victory that keeps them a point behind second-placed Posh.

And what will please Sunderland’s fans was further signs of the sort of spirit, sprinkled with a bit of quality at this level, within the camp that should ensure they have what it takes to stay in the hunt for a return to the Championship for the long haul.

Like so many of Sunderland’s away days have turned out to be, this was another tempestuous affair, with both sets of players rising to the occasion in front of the huge number of fans who made the journey down from Wearside.

Four Sunderland players and six from Doncaster were booked by referee Jeremy Simpson, but the Black Cats eventually settled and did well to ensure they have still only lost one of their opening 14 league games.

Having successfully closed the gap on the top two again over the last couple of weeks, despite playing a game less because of the international break, the focus was on staying right in the mix on another Football League Tuesday night and they did so.

For that to happen, with Peterborough and Portsmouth both at home, Sunderland had to manage without leading scorer Josh Maja.

The nine-goal frontman was rested because of an ankle problem that has caused him issues in recent matches, so Jerome Sinclair led the line and captain George Honeyman was re-introduced to the starting line-up.

The second change saw Lynden Gooch rewarded for his impressive substitute comeback at Shrewsbury, where he set up both goals, by a place on the flank ahead of Irish winger Aiden McGeady.

Sunderland had to threaten in the final third because Doncaster, themselves looking to cement their place in the top six, have been renowned for scoring goals of late; they had hit three in both of their previous two games, while conceding nine in three at the other end.

It was easy to see why. Sunderland looked dangerous when they went on the attack, but similarly Doncaster were intent on pushing forward, particularly on the counter attack after a couple of early efforts for the visitors came to nothing.

Maguire wasted a free header at the back post when he had been picked out perfectly by Gooch from the byline, and Gooch himself had struck a low effort just wide after cutting inside from the right.

Those formed part of a frantic opening period which threatened to end in a red card, with five players booked inside the opening 35 minutes. Dylan McGeouch, Lee Cattermole and Honeyman were cautioned for the visitors, with Mallik Wilks and Ben Whiteman in trouble for Doncaster.

Sunderland fans felt that Wilks deserved more for an off-the-ball incident in front of them on Maguire, who was left floored. Instead he escaped and so did both nets as neither team could find a way through before half-time.

Sunderland’s backline, with Tom Flanagan and Jack Baldwin again strong, stood tall more often than not. When Doncaster did manage to find a way through, Jon McLaughlin was on hand to gather a downward header from Andy Butler and Whiteman’s effort from distance.

McLaughlin’s best work was done in stoppage-time. Seconds after the two-minute board went up, Doncaster somehow broke behind the defence and had two consecutive one-on-ones with the goalkeeper.

Wilks missed the first, when McLaughlin’s touch just did enough to allow Baldwin to charge back and clear off the line. Then Matty Blair got in behind too, but the former Hearts shot-stopper brilliantly stuck out a leg to stop the midfielder’s low attempt from beating him.

And soon after the restart it became clear how important those were because less than two minutes in Sunderland took the lead. The lively Gooch was at the centre of things again. After cutting in and driving into the area, his left foot shot curled off the inside of the far post.

The ball bounced across the face of goal and to Matthews, who directed a low delivery back in the direction of the six-yard area where Maguire was on hand to lift a first time effort into the roof of the net.

While that gave Sunderland the encouragement to build attacking the end where the huge travelling support sat, Doncaster still looked to attack themselves in a bid to climb back into the play-off places.

Wilks provided a reminder when he blasted over after drifting inside from the right and then McLaughlin had to get down quickly to prevent a John Marquis effort from rolling inside his near post.

Marquis – who had penalty claims waved away late on - also had a header plucked out of the air by McLaughlin in the closing stages and defensively Sunderland did what was required to stay ahead and - like so often this season – return to the North-East with three points.