Black Cats left to lick wounds after late Leeds loss

With 15 minutes to go at Elland Road on Monday night, Sunderland looked like they were going to put a cat amongst the pigeons in the race for automatic promotion.

By full-time the Black Cats were left slumped on the floor after a shattering late defeat.

The Wearsiders ultimately ran out of energy in the face of a relentless opponent, in a hostile atmosphere.

Now eight points off the top two with 13 games to play but 15 clear of seventh-placed Coventry, it looks almost certain like it will be the play-offs for them.

Boss Regis Le Bris spoke after the game about how his side, consistently the youngest in the division this season, can learn from this experience for the big matches still to come in this campaign.

There are certainly many positives for them to take from their impressive showing in West Yorkshire, not least the superbly-taken opener from striker Wilson Isidor, but Sunderland fans will be forgiven for waking up this morning without a spring in their step.