Sunderland legend Kevin Phillips feels his former club have 'turned a corner' in their quest for promotion from League One.
Lynden Gooch's stunning goal was enough to secure a 1-0 win over MK Dons on Saturday as Phil Parkinson's side stretched their unbeaten run to seven games.
It was enough to lift Sunderland into the play-off places and they remain six points adrift of automatic promotion with a game in hand.
It is a far cry to Boxing Day when a goalless draw with League One's bottom side Bolton ended with chants of 'we want Parky out' and calls for Phillips to replace him in the dugout.
Phillips, of course, was keen on the job in October before Parkinson was appointed as Jack Ross' successor.
And while he won't be in the Stadium of Light dugout any time soon, he is confident that Sunderland have now found the consistency needed to mount a promotion push.
"They have turned a corner, there is no doubt about that," Phillips told EFL on Quest.
"They have found their scoring boots, they are finding a way to win and the interesting thing is he is picking the same side week-in, week-out.
"They are getting the consistency you need to challenge in this league and they are certainly doing that at the moment.
"4,000 away supporters at Milton Keynes Dons. They will get that every week if they keep winning football matches."
