Sunderland are 'serious' promotion contenders - Bennett

Sunderland last secured promotion out of the Championship in 2007 under Roy Keane

Former Sunderland captain Gary Bennett says his old side are "serious contenders" for automatic promotion as they gear up for the Tees-Wear derby.

The Black Cats sit fourth - a position they have held since late-November - but remain in the thick of the race for a top-two spot.

Victory over Middlesbrough on Monday night would move them level with Burnley in third and only three points behind Sheffield United, who sit second, with a third of the season still to play.

"Sunderland have got some really, really talented players, and they are serious contenders to go up," Bennett told BBC Sport.

Nothing much was expected of the Black Cats after a dismal campaign last year saw them limp home in 16th.

Then the arrival of then unknown Frenchman Regis Le Bris did not raise optimism about what may be ahead.

But after beginning with four straight wins to top the league in August, the Wearside club have remained in and around the promotion fight ever since.

Leeds United, Sheffield United and Burnley were expected to challenge for promotion, making Sunderland the outsiders of the four, but they have doggedly stayed in the fight up to this point.

However, there is a feeling that their position could have even better as they have lost 13 points from winning positions and not taken advantage of other situations.

These include missing a penalty in defeat at Sheffield United and then, most notably, Wilson Isidor's two missed penalties in the 0-0 draw at Burnley last month.

"Any Sunderland fan would have snapped your hand to be fourth at this stage of the season," said Bennett, the summariser for BBC Radio Newcastle.

"But it's not by luck, they deserve to be there and they could have been even higher.

"There are lots of games you look at and can think 'if only' - the missed penalties at Burnley, at home to Coventry and Plymouth, Millwall away.

"But that's the season. You have to earn the right in football."

A trip to Middlesbrough is followed by a trip to leaders Leeds United in a fortnight, two potentially defining games in Sunderland's promotion push.

But Bennett does not believe that his old club will be fearful about what lies ahead.

"We've got these big games coming up, but it's a test for the opposition as well and I think we've played better away from home," he said.

"We've taken four points off Burnley and we should have won at Turf Moor. We missed a pen at Sheffield United and ended up losing late on when we should have won.

"So these sides will know they're in for a good game against Sunderland."

Between them, midfield pair Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham have a combined age of 36

'Youngsters will learn'

One thing that is levelled at Sunderland is a lack of experience. Only central defender Chris Mepham has achieved promotion from this level before, doing so with Bournemouth three years ago.

But it is a side full of youthful vigour, which has captured the imagination of Black Cats supporters and Bennett just hopes they can learn as they go.

"It's a very talented team and they've surprised a lot of people," he said.

"Look at the midfield - Jobe Bellingham, still only 19 and capturing everyone's imagination, Dan Neil the captain, 23, Chris Rigg, 17, a boy, Tommy Watson, only a year older.

"We talk about experience and have they got enough. But by playing, they'll make mistakes, they will learn and hopefully come on stronger."