This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Comment’ series, this content strand is where the author of the article issues their personal opinion on the topic at hand....

Sunderland legend, Micky Gray, expressed his opinion on the current Black Cats manager, explaining that Jack Ross has taken the right approach at the club.

Ross failed to guide Sunderland to an expected promotion last season, after his side suffered late heartbreak in the play-off final.

It's been a topsy turvy time for the man in charge, and there is evidently a lot of pressure on Ross to guide the team out of the division as soon as possible.

The Black Cats have actually had a very successful start to the season, and sit just outside the play-offs, even with a game in hand on most of the sides above them.

They did, however, suffer a really poor defeat last time out, when his side were thrashed 3-0 by a strong Peterborough side. Two players were sent-off in a day that turned out disastrous, leaving supporters angry and disappointed with the performance and ill discipline shown.

However, Gray has stated that the squad that Ross has built is, 'young, hungry and healthy'. Three things every club wants to see, and that'll only help them in the future years, whether they're in League One or not.

This is reason enough for Sunderland to stick with the main man. The squad he has built is ready to compete at the top of League One, just like they did last season, but they have to give Ross the full season once more.

It's important that the Black Cats give him the opportunity to show that he has a squad that works, it's vital for any boss to be given time but especially at a club that has undertaken so much unrest in recent years.

The supporters need to back him, and like Gray has said, Ross is doing the best he can. Obviously, a lot of it is down to results and they are once more in and around the top end of the table despite playing just six games of the season.

Performances are key as well, and he's shown in several big games that his players could handle the pressure. They achieved an excellent play-off semi-final victory over two legs, and were mightily unlucky to find themselves on the losing side in the final.

One thing that would take a chunk of pressure off his shoulders would be if he could get his strikers scoring. He has Marc McNulty, Will Grigg, Chris Maguire and Charlie Wyke, all very competent at League One level, and should be outscoring opposition sides constantly.

They need to step it up a gear, but Ross is the man to do that, sticking with him could be the difference between League One and the Championship.