As far as the ambitions for the 2023/24 season go, Sunderland find themselves in the last chance saloon as the end of February looms. Promotion hopes look to be fading after a hugely disappointing run of form and chaos in the dugout. The next three fixtures, away to Norwich City, followed by a midweek home game against leaders Leicester City and a trip to Southampton, may well reignite Sunderland’s play off hopes. Equally, on the other hand, a trio of poor results will almost certainly hammer the final nails in the coffin in terms of promotion back to the top flight. To steady the ship without the likes of Jack Clarke and Patrick Roberts in the side is a huge ask, and of course Dan Ballard remains suspended for our trip to Norfolk. Luke O'Nien is one yellow card away from a two game ban.
These absences make the upcoming matches even more daunting. Such challenges in terms of injuries and suspensions do give an opportunity to players who haven’t featured as much this season. Of our summer acquisitions, there's only really Jobe Bellingham who has featured heavily at first team level. I do like the look of Jenson Seelt, and I think there is a player there, but what he needs is minutes and a run in the side to aid his development. We may well see the best of him next season. Winger Romain Mundle looks raw but talented; can he be the man to ignite Sunderland’s fortunes in the final third, and assist with our ongoing conundrum of strikers who can't score goals? His supply into the main striker will be key in Jack Clarke's absence. I was surprised Mundle didn’t start the last game against Swansea, but that was probably due to the way we set up in the first half. Let’s face it, the less said about that the better!
I’ve written previously about already having one eye on next season, which I realise has an aura of negativity surrounding it. I have by no means given up on the season entirely, but my gut feeling is that a top six finish is slipping away; something of a mirror opposite to the way last season ended as we steamed into the top six as one of, if not the form side in the division. The final part of this season feels quite different. A poor run of performances and a distinct lack of confidence emanating from the players on match day, coupled with the head coach situation proving almost unsolvable since Tony Mowbray’s departure, we are facing a somewhat indifferent end to the 2023/24 campaign.
As anyone on who follows me on Twitter (or X as it is known these days) knows, I'm fond of a behind the scenes video when it comes to SAFC, and there were indeed some training ground snippets and photos released on social media again this week. Amongst those spotted on the grass were Corry Evans and Bradley Dack. How far away either of them are to a first team return remains firmly up in the air, particularly with club captain Evans who has been out of action for over a year with a knee injury. I suspect Mike Dodds will address both situations before we play on Saturday. Both players will obviously need game minutes and match sharpness in the 21s, and it will be interesting to see if either player makes any kind of appearance in the home fixture with Brighton on Friday. If we do see Evans in a first team Sunderland shirt before the end of the season, it would be a huge boost. As for Dack, I feel like he still has a part to play this season. There was always the worry that he hadn't entirely left his injury problems behind upon joining Sunderland last summer, and those worries were not without justification. Dack has been limited to just thirteen appearances this season, starting on only five occasions and scoring just once. The fact that it looks like he is back in full training with the group can only be a good thing, and as all Sunderland fans know, one area we are hugely lacking in is experience. Dack provides that in abundance, and if we can get him on the pitch in any our final twelve matches, I feel like he still has a part to play, and probably, a point to prove. After all, he is out of contract at the end of the season.
We've reached a critical point in the season for Sunderland whereby after the next three matches against some of the top sides in the division, we may well have a definitive answer to where our fate lies and what league we will be playing our football in next season. We probably can't afford to lose any of the next three matches, which is a big ask. In fact, we can't afford to lose many more league games at all. We sneaked into the play offs on 69 points last season, and at the time of writing, find ourselves on 47 with a possible 36 still on offer. If we think of it in those terms, then there is still a heck of a lot to play for. Mike Dodds and his staff, and of course the supporters, will be looking for a big reaction and a massive step up in performance as we head to Norwich on Saturday. Three points of course would also, be very welcome.
Sunderland Women are also back in action this week, as Southampton travel north in what is a crucial fixture at the top of the Women's Championship. The lasses sit top of the table with the Saints only a solitary point behind in third. With only one promotion spot available and only six fixtures remaining, it is a game that Sunderland simply cannot afford to lose. Winning would be an absolutely huge statement, and we can expect a feisty encounter at Eppleton. Southampton got the better of the lasses in the FA Cup this season, winning 2-0, but I thought that was a close game and I am expecting the same again on Sunday. Sunderland won the reverse league fixture 1-0. Second placed Crystal Palace play fifth placed Birmingham City, and Charlton, who sit in fourth, travel to relegation haunted Watford.
The game at Eppleton kicks off on Sunday at 2pm and it'd be great to see some new faces through the turnstiles to support the lasses as the business end of the season gets into full swing.
