Sunderland defender Jack Baldwin is delighted with the progress the Black Cats are showing, particularly their ability to 'win ugly'.

The Black Cats have started life in League One in terrific form and have been finding their feet of late.

Three successive wins has lifted them to within touching distance of top spot, with a game in hand on the teams above.

The former Peterborough captain has settled into defence with a couple of different partners, firstly Glenn Loovens and latterly Tom Flanagan and at times they've been forced to defend hard.

However, he feels that his team mates have found the right blend of battle and grace to be a success in the third tier.

"At times we’ve had to dig in and defend for our lives, and as defenders that’s what we love doing, putting our bodies on the line," he told the Sunderland Echo. “I think that will instil some fear into other teams now that, ‘Actually, they mean business.’ That’s what we’re here to do. I think we’ve shown we can do both sides of the game."

The recent 1-0 victory at Doncaster was ground out in a less than entertaining fashion, with bookings and fouls punctuating a typical lower league fixture, but Baldwin believes it demonstrates what they're all about.

“To win leagues and get promoted you’re going to have to go away from home and win ugly, win at all costs really."

The Black Cats face a trip to resurgent Plymouth Argyle this weekend, before making an appearance in the FA Cup first round for the first time in almost three decades.

The Verdict

Yes, they've battled in games, but the ones they're winning they're doing so because of style and panache up front.

They've hit a formula that works, dogged and resilient at the back, midfield a mixture of tenacity and flair but with clinical forwards up front.

they've got to be favourites for a return to the Championship, surely? They're three points behind Portsmouth at the moment with a game in hand and better goal difference.

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