SOME weeks you can thrash the league leaders, others you have to grind out a narrow victory against a side threatened with relegation – Phil Parkinson’s Sunderland have now proved they have both facets to their game.

Against MK Dons, the Black Cats were forced to take the latter option and patiently wait for a moment of magic; it eventually came 11 minutes from time courtesy of Lynden Gooch’s left boot.

The free-flowing 4-0 demolition of Wycombe at the Stadium of Light last week may well go down as one of the performances of the season, but this was a benchmark of not dropping points in a tight promotion battle.

“Last week we played well with and without the ball,” said Gooch. “This time we were maybe not so good with the ball but without it, we were absolutely brilliant especially in the second half.

“We pressed them well and tried to play in their half. Sometimes when you come away from home you have to grind results out. That is what you have to do if you want to be in the hunt for promotion.”

His manager Parkinson added: “You have to win all different types of ways to be a successful team. We have shown that today. It was more of a resilient performance.

“You need certain characteristics to win away from home and we are starting to get those. Our mentality is stronger.”

Sunderland are now on a three-game winning streak, haven’t suffered defeat for seven matches and have slipped into the play-off positions.

Gooch was the star performer in front of 4,436 travelling fans at Stadium MK, which was capped with an outstanding bending strike from the corner of the penalty box, having skipped past two defenders.

The goal of the season contender, and a self-professed career favourite for Gooch, came just a few hours after the USA international had a heart-to-heart with Parkinson.

“It is a moment of real quality from Lynden,” said Parkinson. “I had a good chat in the hotel this morning about how he has done since he has got back in the team.

“We wanted him to push on again and not just accept the pats on the back which have come his way.

“He is a very good player but he needs to carry on taking his game to another level every week and that was a moment of immense quality.”

The Black Cats struggled with Dons’ high press during the first half before Parkinson used his tactical nous, another element which will make-or-break a potential return to the Championship.

Dons manager Russell Martin revealed: “The Sunderland players started arguing down the tunnel at half time because they couldn't get to grips with what we were doing.”

The fix was simple for Parkinson.

“We felt that the shape of the team was causing us a few too many problems and we adjusted one or two areas tactically,” he said.

“We wanted the team to come up the pitch five to ten yards.

“We were just off it in terms of our intensity levels and we raised our game in the second half kicking towards our 4,500-travelling army and got a deserved win in the end.”

After a half-time resurgence, the Black Cats could have had a hatful of goals – with Gooch and Charlie Wyke both denied on the goal line within seconds of each other.

But it was defender Alim Ozturk who was guilty of two golden opportunities from set-pieces, which would have made the three points much simpler.

Gooch admitted the Turk thanked him for getting him off the hook but admitted that he never doubted that the Black Cats would find the net.

“We would have come away really disappointed if we had come away without the points,” the academy graduate said.

“We know that we can score at any given moment. We have plenty of quality in the squad to grind out of the win.

“Last year I put a bit too much pressure on myself to score goals so this time I’m taking it one game at a time.

“I would love to get double figures, that would be a big bonus for me, but as long as we are winning games, I’m not really that bothered.

“Between me and Chrissy we have shared the load in the last few weeks, and Charlie got his goal last week. Hopefully, as a front three we can keep scoring the goals and Laff’s come in now as well.”

Kyle Lafferty’s introduction as a 77th minute substitute, after he signed on until the end of the season last week, seemed to have a galvanising effect.

The Northern Irishman almost scored with his first touch and set up a glorious chance for Ozturk, but Parkinson conceded it is too early to think about starting him.

“It was good to get him some game time and it was great for him to be involved,” Parkinson said.

“He could possibly have played for 20 or 25 minutes but he is not ready to start a game yet. He has another week on the training pitch now.

“He showed a couple of good touches and an appetite as well to work to the team. He came on and did well.”