Régis Le Bris
Sunderland’s quest for Premier League survival appears to be nearing completion, with former player Don Goodman expressing confidence in the club’s top-flight status for next season. Despite not being mathematically safe yet, Goodman believes the Black Cats have secured their place in the Premier League, attributing their recent dip in form to this realization.
Don Goodman said: “I think the realisation has dawned on them that they’re going to be a Premier League team again next season. They were always going to suffer a little dip at some point. You couldn’t possibly maintain the level of form they’d displayed. The fact that we got to February before they’d lost a game at home is incredible. If somebody had asked the question, ‘Who’s going to be the last team to lose at home in the Premier League?’, would anybody in their right mind have said Sunderland? It’s just been a magnificent season. The raw emotion of doing so well and the realisation that they are 99.9% guaranteed to be a Premier League team next season may have been a factor in one or two disappointing games. It’s been an incredible, brilliant season. Everybody would have had them down to go straight back down when they won the play-offs last May. Credit the club, credit the recruitment department, because I think the recruitment has been sensational. Not just [Granit] Xhaka – Xhaka has been amazing, but some of the players that none of us had really heard of that they’ve brought in have slotted in seamlessly and done the business for them. They deserve nothing but praise and they’ll be thrilled with the season that they’ve had.”
Goodman’s remarks highlight Sunderland’s remarkable season, which saw them maintain an unbeaten home record until February. This achievement, alongside effective recruitment strategies, has played a pivotal role in their Premier League campaign. The addition of players like Granit Xhaka, who has been a standout performer, has bolstered the squad’s capabilities.
Sunderland head coach Le Bris has consistently aimed for a 40-point target this season, a milestone that remains within reach with a win and a draw from their remaining fixtures. As the season draws to a close, the Black Cats are poised to defy expectations and solidify their Premier League status, much to the delight of fans and stakeholders alike.
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