Alex Neil insists every player can make an impact in Sunderland's play-off campaign - pointing to the example set by Elliot Embleton. The Black Cats are back in the top six following their win at play-off rivals Oxford United this weekend - a result which stretched their unbeaten run to eight matches, and which includes five victories.
And, while he has not been starting games of late, Embleton has made his mark as a substitute in the last couple of matches. The academy product came off the bench to set up Nathan Broadhead's 95th minute winner against Gillingham at the Stadium of Light last weekend, and he followed that by coming off the bench at Oxford to score the decider in the 89th minute in the 2-1 win at the Kassam Stadium.
Neil accepts that it is difficult to keep a squad of players happy when he can only start 11 at a time, but he says promotion-winning sides are powered by the 'team ethic' rather than individual agendas. That point has been exemplified by Embleton's contributions in the last two matches, and last month by the impact that Dan Neil and Patrick Roberts had from the bench when they scored in the final five minutes to give Sunderland a home win against Crewe.
READ MORE: Sunderland's 'grit, determination and never-say-die attitude' earned Oxford win, says Alex Neil
"Elliot is important and all the substitutes are important between now and the end of the season," said Neil. "If you think of the last two or three matches, we wouldn't have the points we have got if it wasn't for the guys coming onto the pitch and impacting the game.
"I can't stress enough how important those lads are. It's difficult to keep their minds focused and keep them motivated because obviously they are disappointed that they are not playing, but time after time they are coming on and doing well so they are obviously in the right place to impact the team.
"What I'm saying to them is that while their time to shine might not be right now from the start, it might be next week or the week after. When you speak to the senior lads who have been involved in promotion-winning squads, everybody is crucial and they need to keep their minds clear, focus on the job at hand, and not think about your own future.
"It's about the team ethic at the moment, and that has to come first."
Sunderland capitalised as several other clubs in the play-off mix dropped points this weekend. Sheffield Wednesday conceded a late equaliser at Bolton, Wycombe were held to a draw at Gillingham, and Plymouth drew 0-0 at Burton.
Sunderland's win saw them climb to sixth in the table, level on points with Sheffield Wednesday immediately above them and Wycombe immediately below them, although Wycombe have played one game more than both the Black Cats and the Owls.
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