Sunderland

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Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris wants to find a solution to his side's penalty problems with the play-offs looming into view.

They beat Millwall 1-0 thanks to Trai Hume's first half strike, but Luke O'Nien's second half spot-kick miss was the big talking point.

It came after Romaine Mundle was fouled, with the winger eager to take it, until he was stood down in place of O'Nien.

Le Bris told BBC Radio Newcastle: "It's tough. For the end of the game, the second goal would have been easier for us and we couldn't relax until the end."

The Black Cats' record stands at one scored and four missed this season, including crucial failures from Patrick Roberts at Sheffield United and two in the space of a few minutes from Wilson Isidor at Burnley.

O'Nien's miss was far less damaging, but it highlighted a key issue if Sunderland's season comes to be decided like this in a play-off semi-final or the final at Wembley, with the side fourth and only needing seven points to secure their spot in the top six.

"It's tough. For the end of the game, the second goal would have been easier for us and we couldn't relax until the end," said Le Bris.

"At the moment, our percentage of success is really low and we have to find a solution.

"This is the best situation to score and so far we only score one out of five.

"We'll talk about it next week because maybe we'll have a penalty shoot-out at the end of the season and if we work like that, the chances won't be high."

Sunderland will aim to regain some form as they host Millwall on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Black Cats suffered a 3-0 loss to Coventry City last time out - a team they could end up facing in the play offs come the end of the season - to see them fall further away from the top three and the dream of automatic promotion dwindle.

While Millwall scraped a 94th minute winning penalty out of their 1-0 game against Stoke and will look to remain undefeated by Sunderland this season, having already drawn 1-1 at the Den in November.

• Sunderland have won just one of their last eight league games against Millwall (D5 L2), a 3-0 win at the Stadium of Light in December 2022.

• After winning their last away league game against Sunderland 1-0 in April last year, Millwall will be looking to claim successive wins on their travels against the Black Cats for the first time.

• Sunderland have lost three of their last six league games (W2 D1), as many defeats as across their prior 27 Championship matches combined (W13 D11).

• Millwall have won four of their last seven away league games (D1 L2), as many victories as across their prior 22 matches on the road combined (D8 L10).

• Sunderland have lost just one of their last 12 league games against sides from London (W3 D8), though that defeat came against Millwall last April. Each of Sunderland's three defeats to sides from the capital since the beginning of the 2018-19 campaign have come at the Stadium of Light.

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Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris says he will find a solution to plug the gaps in his side's defence.

Regular left-back Dennis Cirkin has a hamstring injury, while back-up Leo Hjelde is also out injured.

Centre-back Dan Ballard remains on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, and right-back Trai Hume is playing through a hip problem.

But Le Bris has to find a way of working around this ahead of Saturday's home game with Millwall (15:00 GMT).

"We'll try and play with 10 players," he joked with BBC Radio Newcastle. "But we'll find a solution with a versatile player."

However, Le Bris expects Hjedle and French playmaker Enzo Le Fee to be fit for the trip to West Bromwich Albion on 5 April.

Le Fee has been missing since the end of February after picking up a hamstring injury.

The Black Cats resume their Championship campaign in fourth, 11 points behind the top two and with their automatic promotion hopes effectively over.

Sunderland and England Under-19s midfielder Chris Rigg, 17, is being closely monitored by Everton, Tottenham and West Ham. (Sky Sports, external)

Want more transfer news? Take a look at Thursday's gossip column here.

Tottenham Hotspur have made an early offer for Sunderland's highly-rated midfielder Chris Rigg before the summer transfer window, with a bid of £37m for the 17-year-old Englishman. (Fichajes - in Spanish, external)

Want more transfer news? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.

Sunderland left-back Dennis Cirkin's latest injury has caused frustration among fans, with the 22-year-old playing an important role in the Black Cats pursuit of promotion.

Cirkin also had a injury-impacted 2023-24 season and was hoping for less time in the recovery room this term but his latest hamstring injury marks his second spell on the sidelines this Championship campaign.

"Some players just are a bit like that. There's not much you can do, they just pick up injuries and are maybe a bit fragile in certain places," former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"If Sunderland do get promoted, he would be one of those players that may make the step up.

"I feel a little bit of sympathy for him but at the same time, slightly annoyed."

Cirkin underwent surgery for a broken wrist in November, missing three games before being substituted during their defeat by Coventry City last time out.

BBC Radio Newcastle's Sunderland commentator Nick Barnes believes that injury had a lasting effect.

"Since he's came back from the wrist injury, I don't think he's been the Dennis Cirkin of old for whatever reason," Barnes said.

"I don't think he's been at 100%."

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

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has asked for his players to have their minutes managed while on international duty - but could time with England's Under-19's be just as valuable to midfielder Chris Rigg as time with his club?

The teenager played 22 minutes in Wednesday's 2-0 win over Wales and may feature again for Friday's home game against Turkey.

Rigg has been heavily involved in Sunderland's promotion chase this season, missing just four Championship games.

"It's good that he's involved," former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"His involvement with the coaching set-up and what's going on at England at the moment will be important for him in the future.

"He'll be thinking he's got a good chance of possibly one day being a senior international, which is a great step up for a player like him."

The young midfielder has not started any of Sunderland's past four matches, with the season's schedule beginning to take its toll. However, Gabbiadini believes the 17-year-old won't have his mind on rest.

"Young players just have that bit more vitality and bit more spring in their step," he added.

"People are thinking about too many minutes and things, he probably won't be thinking about that too much."

You can listen to Gabbiadini's full thoughts and more on the Total Sport podcast.

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Sunderland defender Dennis Cirkin has withdrawn from the England Under-21 squad for their two upcoming friendly matches.

The full-back received his first call-up to Lee Carsley's squad for games against France on Friday and Portugal next Monday.

Cirkin was substituted in the second half of the Black Cats' Championship defeat by Coventry City last weekend and will remain at the Stadium of Light for treatment on a hamstring injury.

England have replaced Cirkin with Ronnie Edwards, who is on loan at Sunderland's Championship rivals QPR from Southampton.

Nick Barnes
BBC Radio Newcastle's Sunderland commentator

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For a 19-year-old, Eliezer Mayenda is having an exceptional season, as are Sunderland as a team and I think undoubtedly that is helping him find his feet and his confidence.

The development of Mayenda this season is on a par with Jobe Bellingham last season.

We didn't see much of Mayenda last season as he was on loan at Hibernian and was very much a fringe player when he was back at the club, but he's been involved this season and we have seen him score some terrific goals.

You have also got to factor in that for a player of 19, from Spain, he has driven himself to learn English, to learn from his experience in Scotland and not let that affect his ambitions to break into the first team this season.

He has an explosive finish and a physicality because he is strong, big and stocky and when you see him on the ball he can hold it up and hold off players.

He has had an impact both as a substitute and when he has started games so I think we are only going to see Mayenda get better and better.

The only question now is could he make the step up to the Premier League? Probably at this stage of his career that is asking a lot, but he has also proved the project at Sunderland is working.

Mayenda is stepping up to become a homegrown striker and it does look like this development pattern is a two or three-year cycle.

Players that are coming through this system are taking one or two years to succeed and boss Regis Le Bris has spoken about the first season for these young players being a bit of a struggle. But if they work hard, are committed and listen, that path is seemingly working.

The problem is they need to get the numbers through to back up what might possibly happen this summer if Sunderland do not get promoted.

If that happens, players will leave and they need those players coming through to replace them and that's the next stage in the project.

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The decision to play Alan Browne as a winger in Sunderland's 3-0 defeat by Coventry was "absolutely bizarre", according to former Black Cats striker Marco Gabbiadini.

Regis Le Bris' side enter the international break with three defeats from their past six matches but are safely in fourth place in the Championship table.

Browne, traditionally a central midfielder, was introduced for Patrick Roberts 12 minutes from time at the CBS Arena.

"It truly was an awful performance and they got exactly what they deserved but I was quite shocked at the substitutions," Gabbiadini told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"It was a game that was attritional, about getting to the ball first - why Alan Browne didn't get on the field earlier I've no idea and when he does come on he plays as a winger which is absolutely bizarre."

Sunderland's next game is not until 29 March when they host Millwall and Gabbiadini will be looking for a big improvement from Saturday's loss.

"We've seen ourselves through games like this in the past but you have to play very well and play very good football to play around teams like that and we got nowhere near it," he added.

"Usually when a manager leaves a team it's because he's underperformed - Mike Dodds left Sunderland to take on the managership of Wycombe Wanderers.

"I still think Regis Le Bris is fantastic, I'm sure the backroom team are great and I still think we've got a brilliant squad but when somebody has been there for four years and has been a really important and instrumental part to the club..."

With Sunderland's automatic promotion hopes taking a blow of late, Black Cats fan Helen discusses with former Sunderland defender Gary Bennett if the departure of assistant head coach Mike Dodds could be the reason for a dip in form.

Dodds had been a consistent presence at the club since arriving in 2021, including three spells as interim boss, before he was named as head coach of League One outfit Wycombe Wanderers last month.

In the six weeks since his departure, the Black Cats have won four, drawn two and lost three Championship games.

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

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Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris spoke to BBC Radio Newcastle after his side were beaten 3-0 at Coventry City.

"Coventry were good, very good. They were intense, with the ability to create chances though different ways," he said.

"We were prepared for that tactically, but on the pitch it wasn't possible because our intensity wasn't high enough.

"We were not good in duels, to second balls and we had many turn-overs so we didn't control anything.

"So it's a bad afternoon, but at the same time it is a good reminder for us because this league is tough and we have strong opponents to face. It showed that when we are at that level we are punished."

Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini says that ending the season in an automatic promotion spot will be asking a lot of the young Black Cats squad.

"You can tell that they have that outside thought that they can break into the top two, but it will be a big ask from where they are at the moment," Gabbiadini told BBC Radio Newcastle.

Sunderland are currently eight points behind second-placed Sheffield United and six below Burnley in third.

And Gabbiadini sees the benefit of the Black Cats entering a play-off scrap for promotion.

"Anyone can win a play-off. It's a shootout and anything can happen," he said.

"There's so many scenarios that it's going to be an exciting end to the season.

"I hope the lads get what they deserve and they do deserve a crack at a play-off final. I think that would be a big highlight for them and above expectations."

You can listen to Gabbiadini's full thoughts and more on the Total Sport podcast.

Play off contenders Coventry City and Sunderland meet on Saturday (15:00 GMT) for three huge points at the top end of the table.

The visitors are a healthy three points clear of the Sky Blues in sixth, but are seven adrift of the top two and are looking to end the season strong.

While Coventry conceded a shock defeat to relegation-threatened Derby County last time out to see their five-game winning streak come to an end.

The loss has put them in striking distance of Bristol City and Middlesbrough, with the Robins having the chance to go ahead on Friday.

• The last nine league meetings between Coventry and Sunderland have alternated between a draw and a victory for Coventry; the game earlier this season ended 2-2.

• Sunderland are winless in their last 11 league visits to Coventry (D5 L6); their last win on the road against the Sky Blues came at Highfield Road in April 1985 in the top-flight.

• Coventry City have won seven of their last nine home league matches (D1 L1), winning each of their last three in a row. They last had a longer home winning run between May and October 2021 (seven wins).

• Sunderland have won three of their last four away league games (L1), as many as they won in their previous 12 away games combined (W3 D5 L4).

• Bobby Thomas has scored in each of his last three home league appearances for Coventry, scoring three times in total. He'd only scored twice in his first 35 games at the Coventry Building Society Arena for the Sky Blues.

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris says his team will need to be at their best if they are to sustain their promotion challenge.

Four of the Black Cats' nine remaining league games are against teams currently in the top 10 - they face fellow play off contenders Coventry City on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

"These games are so tight, so difficult, that if we are not in our best shape, we will fail," Le Bris told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"It's very important to build strong momentum in this last month and I think it's possible.

"Sometimes we can forget that this team has done very well so far, obviously it's a young team, the youngest in the league.

"The last month we've had ups and downs but we reacted well and I hope it will be the case for the last month."

However, while the Frenchman is looking at how best to improve the sides' play off prospects, he has not yet written his side into them.

"We are not yet in the play-offs," Le Bris added.

"If we are too relaxed, it will be a disaster, so our specific ambition is to be at our top.

"It's not behind us, it's ahead of us, so we have something to chase."

Listen to Le Bris' full press conference and more on the Total Sport podcast.

"You can see Wilson Isidor, he's disappointed. I think he'll be disappointed with his all-around play because, for me, he struggled to get into the game."

"The automatic promotion place is slipping away and for me the biggest question is - Mayenda or Wilson Isidor?"

With both Burnley and Sheffield United taking just one point in their respective matches on Tuesday, are these the kinds of opportunities Sunderland can't afford to miss?

Simon Pryde and Nick Barnes are joined by former Sunderland defender Gary Bennett to discuss their draw against Preston North End and whether boss Regis Le Bris' decision to take off Eliezer Mayenda over Isidor cost them a much needed win.

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

Sunderland defender Trai Hume says Preston North End's time-wasting tactics helped spur the Black Cats on to grab their equaliser in Tuesday's 1-1 draw.

Several North End players went to ground following Emil Riis' opening strike, with the crowd growing increasingly frustrated.

However, Hume says that the stop-start second half helped lift the energy in the ground and led to Romaine Mundle's late leveller.

"You kind of expect it but they did go to the extreme. They had about four or five players that went down," Hume told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"The fans got up from it and we pushed on and ended up getting the equaliser so it kind of helped us in a way. It's not ideal but it's what teams do when they come and play against us."

Mundle's curled shot gave the Black Cats a point but having wasted several chances, particularly in the first half, the Wearside club will feel a big opportunity to close on the top three went begging.

Both Burnley and Sheffield United also only managed a point on Tuesday, with Leeds United looking to gain ground on Wednesday when they host Millwall.

"We thought we could have come away with three points, and you look at the other results and you realise they've drew, but it could have been worse - they could have won," Hume added.

"You've got to think of it as a positive but obviously, we are frustrated we didn't get the three points."

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

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Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris said his side struggled to deal with Preston North End's direct play during their 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats rescued a point through Romaine Mundle's superb strike late on after Emil Riis put the visitors ahead.

Le Bris said Preston made life difficult for his side with their willingness to get the ball forward quickly.

"I think we started OK. It was 4-4-2, a little bit different. We needed some adjustments to find the right dynamic," Le Bris told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"It worked well, we created chances and should have scored before. We struggled a bit against their direct play, it is not easy to press.

"Our block was open and they kept the ball close to our box and were able to create chances from nothing from direct play."

But Le Bris was pleased with Sunderland's character and is refusing to give up on the promotion race despite a seven-point gap to the automatic spots.

"It was a good reaction, another point in the race. The league is long and we'll keep going."

Sunderland midfielder Jobe Bellingham is rumoured to have caught the eye of Premier League side Chelsea - but not everyone believes it would be a good move for the teenager.

Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini says a move to Stamford Bridge could end up working against Bellingham, with the Blues already harbouring a huge squad filled with expensive players.

"As soon as you say Chelsea, alarm bells start ringing for me. How many players have gone there and it's just not worked out?" Gabbiadini told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"Please, whatever you do, don't go there. If you are going to leave Sunderland, don't go there."

Chelsea is not the only side Gabbiadini believes Bellingham should think twice about joining, preferring a move for the 19-year-old that would echo his older brother Jude.

The elder Bellingham moved from Birmingham City to German titans Borussia Dortmund before joining current side Real Madrid.

Gabbiadini believes that the Bundesliga would be an easier step in the midfielder's development due to smaller squad sizes and lower transfer spends - a move that proved fruitful for his England international sibling.

"It's a Premier League problem," he added. "He's been playing brilliantly, he's really great to watch and you can understand why teams are interested in him.

"But does he want to be playing in Premier League football yet? It's a big step but you want to get it right."

You can listen to Gabbiadini's full thoughts and more on the Total Sport podcast.