Table-toppers Leeds United, seven wins and three draws from their last ten league matches. Second-placed Sheffield United, eight wins from their last 12 league games. Third-placed Burnley, nine wins and five draws from their last 14 league outings, culminating in Wednesday’s 5-0 thrashing of Plymouth. It is quite some achievement from Sunderland just to have kept pace with the three sides above them.
Heading into tomorrow’s home game with the same Plymouth side that were hammered on home soil in midweek, the Black Cats are on a run of five wins, two draws and a defeat from their last eight league matches. Not quite as good as their promotion rivals, but not far off. And, as Regis Le Bris concedes, probably the minimum requirement from the next eight games if Sunderland are to remain part of the automatic-promotion race heading into the run-in.
“The pace at the top of the table is very impressive at the minute,” said the Sunderland boss. “We need to prove that we can be in that bracket.
“It’s tough because you have to win, win, win. Maybe you can draw or lose in one game, but then you have to win, win, win again to regain momentum. That is our next goal now – we have to prove that we deserve to be in this part of the table.
“You look at Burnley the other night, and they did so efficiently, winning 5-0 at Plymouth. Four big chances, four goals. That shows that team is ready to be in the final sprint. We have to show that we are able to do the same.”
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Sunderland’s next five games feature trips to both Middlesbrough and Leeds United. So, while nothing can be taken for granted in the Championship, it feels as though the three home matches that make up that sequence – against Plymouth, Watford and Luton – are games in which Le Bris’ side can really not afford to slip-up.
Plymouth arrive on Wearside in a state of considerable turmoil. Wayne Rooney has gone, replaced by the somewhat unheralded Miron Muslic. Their star player, Morgan Whittaker, was omitted from the squad that were thrashed by Burnley, amid strong speculation that he will be leaving in the final week of the transfer window. Rock bottom, and five points adrift of 23rd-placed Luton, they have failed to win any of their 14 away matches so far this season. An open goal for the Black Cats? If only life were that simple.
“Any team in this league can beat any team, so it’s still tough,” said Le Bris. “It is a new opponent and a new scenario, but a good opportunity for us to move forward, especially at home, where we have been good so far. At the same time, though, we need to earn the points.”
Plymouth will almost certainly set out looking to stifle their opponents, which could mean Sunderland’s players have to think on their feet, something Le Bris feels they have become increasingly adept at this season.
“I like the team’s ability to find solutions in real time,” he said. “It is a sign of the best teams – when you can find the solutions yourself on the pitch rather than wait for half-time when you can maybe be shown some clips or get the opinion of the coaches.
“We are able to adapt now. If we could do a bit quicker, that would be even better, and if we could create chances a bit earlier, that would be better. But in the three previous games, we have been good.”
