Sunderland

Luke O'Nien will make his 300th appearance for Sunderland, if selected against Sheffield Wednesday on Friday night.

The midfielder joined the Black Cats from Wycombe in 2018 and was part of the side which won promotion to the Championship via the play-offs in 2022.

O'Nien has only missed one league game so far this season with Sunderland in the thick of the promotion race.

"He came in as a central midfielder and he's played everywhere else and playing that number of games shows you're fit, reliable and he's never let anyone down," former Sunderland striker Martin Smith told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"It's no disrespect but he's got the most out of everything he's got - he looks into his game and every fine detail."

The 30-year-old has scored 23 goals during his time at the Stadium of Light and Smith believes he is a vital part of Regis Le Bris' side.

"Sometimes on the outside you don't see what an individual brings on a day-to-day basis and what a manager sees having someone in the team, maybe not in terms of performance all the time but what he brings to everyone else," Smith added.

13th placed Sheffield Wednesday host fourth placed Sunderland on Friday (20:00 GMT) as both teams look for a first win in three league games that will strengthen their position on the Championship table.

The Black Cats have fallen away from their top three rivals after two straight defeats sees them eight points adrift of second placed Sheffield United.

While the Owls are just six points shy of a play off spot, but their two successive losses puts them at the latter end of a top half cramped with promotion chasers.

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost three of their last four league games against Sunderland (W1), losing those three matches by a combined 12-0 scoreline.

• Sunderland have lost just two of their last nine away league games against Sheffield Wednesday (W5 D2), winning 3-0 on their last visit to Hillsborough in September 2023.

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost each of their last two league games and will be looking to avoid losing three in succession for the first time since August 2024, a run which began with a 4-0 defeat to Sunderland.

• Sunderland have lost their last two league games, as many as they had in their previous 25 in the Championship (W12 D11).

• Sunderland's Wilson Isidor has been involved in five goals in his last six league games (4 goals, 1 assist), as many as in his previous 18 appearances (5 goals).

Image source, Rex Features

Sunderland's home meeting with Sheffield Wednesday on Friday is "huge" in terms of their promotion hopes, according to former Black Cats striker Martin Smith.

They have lost their past two Championship matches to slip eight points behind the automatic promotion places and face a Wednesday side still harbouring serious play-off hopes.

"Friday is huge because are you looking at the top of the table or what's coming behind you?" Smith told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"If you go and win Friday you're still looking at that top two and things can change massively if the results go your way on Saturday.

"If you get beaten you're suddenly looking over your shoulder if Coventry win, so I think Friday is absolutely massive in terms of what could happen leading towards the end of the season."

Sunderland were beaten 2-1 at leaders Leeds United 10 days ago and followed that up with a home defeat by Hull City last Saturday.

Smith, who scored 25 goals in more than 100 appearances for the Wearside club in the 1990s, is hoping a night game at the Stadium of Light can get his former side back on track.

"Night games tend to be a higher tempo, the atmosphere is better so there should be no worries about being up for it, so hopefully it's the one that gets everyone thinking positively again."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Sunderland defender Darren Williams says automatic promotion from the Championship is "definitely reachable" for the Black Cats.

Regis Le Bris' side are fourth in the table and eight points behind Sheffield United in second with 12 games remaining.

Williams told BBC's Total Sport podcast he believes Sunderland can finish in the top two "without a shadow of a doubt".

"I wouldn't take my eye off second spot to be quite honest, I think it's reachable," he said.

Enzo Le Fee and Dan Ballard both sustained injuries in the 1-0 defeat at home to Hull City on Saturday - the first time Sunderland have lost two consecutive league games this season.

"It might be a glimmer of hope that we get into second spot, obviously with having two knocks with the injuries that we've just taken on board," Williams added.

"But there's no way on earth that we cannot make that. But you've got to be realistic and think you can't just rely on the fact that we're 12 points safely in the play-offs because then that complacency kicks in."

Listen to Darren Williams on the Total Sport Sunderland AFC podcast on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Former Sunderland defender Danny Collins thinks Regis Le Bris has a decision to make about under-fire keeper Anthony Patterson.

The 24-year-old was criticised for his part in Leeds United's late winning goal last week before fumbling Joe Gelhardt's near-post corner into his own net against Hull City on Saturday to make it two successive defeats for Sunderland for the first time this season.

Collins - who won the Championship with the Black Cats in 2005 and 2007 - told BBC Radio Newcastle that back-up Simon Moore might start against Sheffield Wednesday on Friday (20:00 GMT) should Le Bris opt to take Patterson "out of the firing line".

"The spotlight's on him, coming off the back of the goals Leeds scored, balls coming into the six-yard box. Teams are going to have a look at that now, I'm sure Hull looked at it," he said.

"It's a flat ball that's whipped near-post. He tries to collect it and gather it in, he gets a glove on it, it goes through his hands and drops into the back of the net. It looks horrible, it is horrible, and it's cost Sunderland points."

Moore, 34, started four games in October and November, keeping three clean sheets, when Patterson was sidelined through injury, having kept six clean sheets himself in Sunderland's opening 11 Championship matches.

Collins added: "I feel for Patto, he's come in for a little bit of flak in recent weeks, hopefully he can bounce back from it.

"His position is possibly under threat - I listen to what the fans are saying. Simon Moore came in earlier in the season and did quite well. He's an experienced goalkeeper.

"(Le Bris) may well think I'll just take him out of the firing line. He is still a young keeper and he might feel 'I'll just give him a little break and bring (Moore) in'."

Image source, Getty Images

Sunderland have promised "the strongest possible action" after Romaine Mundle said he had been targeted by online racist abuse.

The 21-year-old midfielder shared a discriminatory post sent to him on his Instagram account after Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Championship strugglers Hull.

Sunderland said they had a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of discrimination and vowed to track down and punish those responsible.

"The club will continue to work with the authorities and the EFL to ensure the well-being of our players and staff," they said in a statement.

"We will also continue to report all forms of online discrimination to [Instagram owners] Meta and urge them to do more to remove this unacceptable behaviour from their platforms.

"It has no place in our game or society and we will support the strongest possible action against those responsible."

Image source, Rex Features

Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris described Anthony Patterson's own goal in their defeat by Hull as a "silly mistake".

Le Bris told BBC Radio Newcastle: "It's a shame because in these types of games silly mistakes can change things. For sure, we have to think about these mistakes because we have to improve our game. It's not like a coincidence.

"The energy of the team was good and positive and they tried to start the game properly but the own goal changed the dynamic of the game because the opponent used a low, compact block and it was a different problem.

"It's the 34th game, the season is long and we have a short squad so we can understand that we have a low point in our dynamic. The game wasn't horrible but it wasn't the best performance so far."

He confirmed that Dan Ballard and Enzo Le Fee both seem to have hamstring injuries.

Image source, Getty Images

Regis Le Bris is ready to pitch winger Romaine Mundle back into the first-team mix against Hull City on Saturday after more than three months on the sidelines.

Mundle, 21, has been absent with a hamstring injury since early November but was an unused substitute on Monday when the Black Cats were beaten in stoppage time by Championship pacesetters Leeds.

But following another week on the training ground, Mundle is firmly in contention for a return against the Tigers on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

"Romaine should be OK now," Le Bris said. "We felt against Leeds it was just a little bit too soon. It's not just about the minutes, it's about a strong opponent in and out of possession.

"But I think he is ready now. We didn't rush the process at Leeds, especially because of the intensity of that game. We felt it was just a little bit too early for him but for now, I think it will be OK."

Le Bris says Mundle's return has contributed to a situation where Sunderland's bench strength is better than at any time this season.

"We will have more options now, I think our bench is the strongest it has been. It is good to refresh the team because the other players have played a lot of minutes, they need help and energy."

How will Sunderland react after suffering late heartbreak against Leeds on Monday? They were on course to close the gap on the league leaders until Pascal Struijk's late double saw them suffer a 2-1 defeat at Elland Road.

But it's back to the Stadium of Light for the fourth-placed Black Cats who could reduce the deficit between themselves and second-placed Sheffield United to five points with a win. The Blades welcome Leeds to Bramall Lane on Monday.

Hull go into this off the back of no wins in their past three games but head coach Ruben Selles said his side have to be happy with the 1-1 draw against Norwich, last Saturday.

Relegation-threatened Tigers are just above the drop zone in 21st with one point separating them and Derby.

• Sunderland have lost just one of their last 12 league games against Hull City (W5 D6), though that sole defeat came in this exact fixture last season (1-0).

• Hull City are unbeaten across their last three away league games against Sunderland (W1 D2), since a 1-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light in January 2018.

• Sunderland suffered only their fifth league defeat of the season last time out to Leeds in a 2-1 loss at Elland Road. It was only their second loss of the season when scoring first, along with their 3-2 defeat at Plymouth in September.

• Since his first Championship start for Hull on 21 January, Joe Gelhardt leads all his teammates for shots (13), dribbles (23), duels won (30), ball carry distance (708.7m), expected goals (1.2) and he has created the joint most chances in open play (5).

• Sunderland's Wilson Isidor has scored or assisted in each of his last five Championship appearances (4 goals, 1 assist). He is yet to score more than once in a game this season, with his 12 goals the most by a Black Cats player in a league season without doing so since David Connolly netted 13 in 2006-07.

Image source, PA Media

Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris said he was proud of his players despite Monday's damaging late defeat at Leeds.

Le Bris' side were good value for their lead and appeared on course to cut the gap on Leeds to four points at the top of the Championship before Pascal Struijk's late double.

The Black Cats are now eight points adrift of the top two after their eight-game unbeaten league run was halted.

Le Bris said: "I think it was fair for us to score the goal and to be leading at half-time.

"I thought the second half was more difficult because they built strong momentum and we didn't find the solution to break their dynamic.

"With the crowd, the energy of the stadium - it was always increasing and even with our subs, we didn't find the solution to change this energy."

Ian Woodcock
BBC Sport England at Elland Road

Image source, Rex Features

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.

Image source, PA Media

Regis Le Bris hopes the big-match occasion will bring the best out of his Sunderland side when they visit Leeds on Monday (20:00 GMT).

The Black Cats salvaged a dramatic 2-2 draw against the table-toppers at home in October but will face a different test at Elland Road, where Leeds have won 12 of their past 13 games and only conceded three goals.

"They are a very good team," Le Bris told BBC Radio Newcastle. "It will be an exciting challenge, but it's still [just] three points to play for.

"For us it's a really good challenge to test our limits. I think we can improve our level against the best opponents.

"I'd agree that Leeds are probably the best team we have faced this season. They have many vertical threats and are very impressive when they have space to exploit.

"We just have to focus on our game. We know they are a threat, we know they can be dangerous, if we are naïve we can be punished, but at the same time if we don't play our best football it doesn't mean anything.

"It's more of a positive challenge than something to be scared of. We have played well against the best teams so far.

"It's a question of pragmatism because we can't afford to let them play, but if we don't damage their defence we'll have many regrets at the end."

Meanwhile, Romaine Mundle "is an option" for Monday, according to Le Bris.

He returned to training last week and has missed Sunderland's past 17 games after scoring four in his first 15 appearances this season, coming off against Coventry on 9 November after assisting both goals.

"He's an option for us," Le Bris said. "We have many players available so the selection will be tough, but he should be available."

Saving the best 'til last this weekend? Title-chasing Leeds will welcome promotion rivals Sunderland to Elland Road on Monday night (20:00 GMT).

Daniel Farke's side could find themselves in second before kick-off, should Sheffield United pick up a win at Luton on Saturday while the fourth-placed Black Cats begin the weekend five points adrift of the Blades, albeit with a healthy 14-point lead over fifth-placed Blackburn in the play-off race.

• Leeds United have won only one of their previous seven league games against Sunderland (D3 L3), with those three draws coming in the past four meetings (L1).

• Sunderland are unbeaten on each of their past five Football League trips to Leeds (W3 D2), having gone 21 consecutive visits without a win before this run, losing their previous seven in a row.

• Leeds have won 12 of their past 13 home league games (D1), keeping 10 clean sheets in that run and scoring 37 goals.

• Sunderland are looking to win three consecutive away league games for the first time since September 2023.

• Since the start of November, Leeds' Daniel James has been involved in nine goals in 10 league games at Elland Road (6 goals, 3 assists), both scoring and assisting in his last two games (2 goals, 3 assists).

Image source, Getty Images

Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris says that Enzo Le Fee provided the 'X-Factor' in his side's home win over Luton Town.

Le Fee broke the deadlock after 13 minutes with a 20-yard strike for his first Black Cats goal and first of any kind since April 2023.

It set the team on their way to a comfortable three points as they matched the victories on Wednesday of promotion rivals Sheffield United and Burnley.

"It was a question of disturbing their low block to create chances," Le Bris told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"In that situation, we needed an X-Factor and it was important today to have a player like Enzo to make the difference.

"He's really well connected with the team and he showed he can be a hard worker out of possession and he's here to help.

"When you can earn this confidence from the team, at the end you can show your good qualities."