Sunderland Remain In Promotion Contention

30/01/2025 13:41 Share

Sunderland’s impressive season under Regis Le Bris continued across January as the Black Cats maintained their push for promotion from the EFL Championship.

The Bristol Street Motors-backed side had gone into the new season as 25/1 outsiders to win the league, whilst odds of 8/1 for promotion were only slightly better than the odds on relegation after a challenging 2023/24 campaign.

However, victory against Sheffield United on New Years Day ensured that Sunderland entered 2025 firmly in contention towards the top of the division, with Le Bris and his young side impressing from the start of the campaign.

On the back of the Sheffield success, Sunderland’s promotion push continued with another home win as Wilson Isidor netted early on to secure all three points against Portsmouth.

After a much-changed side exited the FA Cup in the third round, league action continued with a trip to Burnley; another side involved in the fight for automatic promotion at the top of the table.

The game would end in a goalless draw although it could have been better for the Black Cats, with Isidor twice denied from the penalty spot in the closing stages of the match.

A cool finish from Eliezer Mayenda secured a 1-0 win at Derby, although it should arguably have been more after a goal from Isidor was controversially ruled out for offside.

A 2-2 draw at home to Plymouth thanks to goals from Isidor and Trai Hume rounded out the month to leave Sunderland fourth in the table, and just three points off the automatic promotion spots.

As a mark of the improvement seen since Le Bris took charge, the 55 points scored so far is only one behind the tally for the 2023/24 campaign – with 17 games still left to play.

February features five games that start with the short trip to the Riverside to face Middlesbrough, and also includes a trip to Elland Road for a huge game with Leeds United.