As football approaches its business end of the season, every point can be crucial. In Sunderland’s case, should they wish to achieve promotion, every three points are crucial. The Black Cats have had a poor 2022 so far going from automatic promotion candidates to dropping out of the play-off places. 10 games remain and it’s 10 cup finals for Sunderland. Add potentially three more should they face the play-offs once again.
10 Cup Finals Remain for Sunderland as They Aim for Play-offs
Intense Battle Ahead for Play-off Place
At present 11 clubs are battling for either automatic promotion or a play-off place in League One. Two will be promoted automatically with a further four facing the dreaded playoffs.
Sunderland currently lie in seventh place, one place, and one point off a play-off spot. With 12 points now separating the Black Cats and the second automatic promotion place, it is looking increasingly likely that should they be promoted, the team and their long-suffering fans will once again have to face the play-offs.
While 10 huge games await Sunderland, there are teams around them with either 11 or 12 games putting the Black Cats under more pressure to produce the results needed.
10 huge games begin with Fleetwood Town on Tuesday, March 8, but should Sunderland finally find consistent form, they could go into the play-offs with enough momentum and confidence to come out of it a Championship club next season.
Alex Neil Has Confidence
Head coach Alex Neil has revealed he has real confidence in his squad following two much-improved performances. A convincing 3-0 win at second-placed Wigan Athletic was followed by a 0-0 draw at Charlton Athletic, a game where the Black Cats should have won comfortably.
Speaking ahead of Tuesday night’s game against Fleetwood, Neil told Chronicle Live: “I think we’re in a good place, I certainly don’t think we lack confidence.
“We won at Wigan comfortably and we should have won at Charlton comfortably as well, so performance-wise we are in a really good spot at the moment. What we wanted on Saturday was to make it count, but unfortunately, we didn’t do that. But I’ve got real confidence in the group. The last two performances have been good.”
Momentum Needed
Following a disastrous run of form this calendar year, Sunderland dropped from challenging at the top of the table to outside of the play-off positions. Lee Johnson was sacked and replaced by Alex Neil.
One defeat in his first five games had steadied the ship a little but now Neil and his team must take their performances in their previous two games into the next 10. Should they do so they have every chance of finally gaining promotion. Failure and another season in League One awaits.
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