Lee Johnson reveals more on Sunderland team dilemma

Danny Batth walked straight into the starting side following his arrival to the club last week. 

The defender made his debut for the club as Sunderland claimed a 1-0 victory over Portsmouth. 

Batth performed superbly as Johnson weighed up how to set his side against Pompey.

The absence of Alex Pritchard and Bailey Wright complicated matters further, as both were ruled out with calf injuries. Neither are expected back for the upcoming game at Bolton Wanderers either. 

However, Johnson has admitted that he is likely to revert to a back four in the medium to long term. 

Johnson also mentioned his wide options will be better once Aiden McGeady and Patrick Roberts return to full match fitness. 

“It played to our strengths on the day,” said Johnson, via the Sunderland Echo. 

“Moving forward I’m not sure when you’ve got Aiden McGeady, Leon Dajaku, Patrick Roberts, Elliot Embleton, Alex Pritchard.

“Sometimes you have to just go horses for courses.

“It was a risk on Saturday, no doubt, and I spent a lot of time last week deciding whether to play a three or four.

“They also play 3-4-3 and have very narrow forwards, which can cause you a problem especially when they push their wing backs high.

“It was the best way I could give a new team and a new player clarity to be able to go toe to toe. It was tight and it wasn’t as fluid as we maybe would have liked it to be but at the same, it ended up playing into our hands.”

Johnson also revealed that the poor state of the Stadium of Light pitch has forced the side to adapt with a more direct approach to games. 

Sunderland are now second in the League One table, level on points with leaders Wigan Athletic who have four games in hand. 

That Johnson is adapting to the injuries and