🎧 Would a play-off loss spoil Sunderland's season?

North East football journalist Mark Carruthers predicts that Sunderland are set for another year in the Championship - but that their improvement this season should be reason enough for celebration.

The Black Cats are currently fourth on the table and eight points short of an automatic promotion spot, but are seven points clear in the play-offs race.

Carruthers, though, doesn't see Sunderland being joyous at Wembley on 24 May should their promotion hopes come down to the one-off showpiece.

"I think they will get to the play-off final but I think they will lose it," he told BBC Radio Sunderland.

"I think you have to look at the bigger picture with Sunderland and look at how far they've come this season from where they were last year.

"The progress from where they were 12 months ago is monumental."

Sunderland finished 16th last season with 56 points, a total the current side have already surpassed under Regis Le Bris, with 65 from 35 matches.

You can listen to the full interview and more on the Total Sport podcast.