Former Sunderland favourite Lynden Gooch has had to reply to fan criticism following the Stoke City game last weekend.
Gooch returned to the Stadium of Light with his Stoke City side last Saturday.
It was a welcome return for the former Blacks Cats favourite who racked up 247 total appearances for the club, scoring 25 and assisting 38 during an 11-year stint with the club.
But after Michael Beale’s Sunderland earned a much-needed 3-1 win over the Potters on Saturday afternoon, Gooch came under scrutiny from a small section of Stoke City fans who accused Gooch of not putting in 100%, simply because he was playing against his former club.
Lynden Gooch hits back at Stoke City critics
Responding to the criticism on X, the 28-year-old posted:
Gooch was brought to the bet365 Stadium last summer by former Sunderland boss Alex Neil.
Since, Gooch has featured 20 times for Stoke City in the Championship, scoring twice; the Potters have since changed manager with Steven Schumacher coming in, though they remain in 19th place of the table.
Bizarre criticism of Sunderland favourite Gooch is unjust
Gooch received a warm welcome over the weekend, and a likewise round of applause from Sunderland fans when he was brought off in the second half.
He was a very well-liked player during his time at Sunderland; despite coming under criticism for some performances, especially during the League One years, Gooch was always someone who gave 100% and left everything on the pitch.
So this emerging criticism of Gooch seems unjust and unfair as putting in maximum effort is arguably Gooch’s best attribute.
It’s a tough time for Stoke City right now and a tough time for Sunderland, with Beale still a widely unpopular figure despite a good win against Stoke City.
The Potters set themselves a high bar last summer with Gooch being one of 18 new arrivals in the summer.
But Neil couldn’t get a tune out of them. Stoke have been floating above the drop zone throughout the season but Schumacher looks like the man to really start to fulfil this team’s potential, and Gooch could play a key role in that turnaround.
Sunderland meanwhile are back in action against neighbours Middlesbrough this weekend; Michael Carrick’s side currently sit in 11th place of the table compared to Sunderland in 7th, with three points the difference.