Sunderland

Sunderland are now assured of a play-off spot and a win over Swansea would guarantee them at least a fourth-placed finish

Swansea go into the game on the back of a three-match unbeaten run.

• After their 3-2 win in December, Sunderland are looking to record their first league double over Swansea City since 1963-64.

• Swansea have won each of their past three away league games at Sunderland, this after only winning two of their first 14 beforehand (D5 L7).

• Sunderland have earned 43 points in 20 Championship home games this season, their most from their opening 20 home matches of a season in one of England's top two tiers since 2004-05 (46).

• Swansea have only won one of their past nine away league outings (D2 L6), a 1-0 victory at Bristol City in February.

• Sunderland have kept a clean sheet in each of their past three league games, last keeping four in a row in the Championship in February 2007.

Former Sunderland defender Danny Collins has reflected on Milan Aleksic's struggling start to his career at the club after the 0-0 draw with Norwich City marked just his second start for the Black Cats.

Aleksic became a Black Cat in August last year, joining from Serbian side Radnicki on a four-year contract, but has made just six appearances in the Championship, becoming a perennial unused substitute as he tries to adapt to English football.

Regis Le Bris started the 19-year-old at Carrow Road on the right-hand side of midfield but Aleksic lasted 68 minutes without making much of an impact on proceedings.

"It's been a difficult one for him," Collins told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"From what I've seen prior to Norwich, I thought he had been quite good. A couple of opportunities which he hadn't taken but he was quite sharp with the ball in the middle of the park.

"I think his favourite position would be playing in an eight, and I thought Regis Le Bris would have played him there against Norwich and Chris Rigg would be the one out on the right with Patrick Roberts dropping to the bench.

"But he put Aleksic out on the right-hand side and he struggled.

"I think both wingers did. Tommy [Watson] came in on the left and neither could really get into the game, beat the full-back and look after the ball."

With their play-off status secured following the stalemate at Norwich, Sunderland's next game is against Swansea City on Saturday and Le Bris may look to experiment with his line-ups and personnel over the remaining five games of the regular season, potentially giving someone like Aleksic more opportunities.

"He's been on the bench 31 times unused this season," Collins added. "As a player that's demoralising. Week-in, week-out, he's probably thinking, 'I'm not getting on here'.

"When we're saying about Chris Rigg and Jobe [Bellingham] playing week after week and fans have been saying they look a bit leggy now, give him 10-15 minutes in games and he's not been getting that.

"Then to chuck him straight in last night and he struggled and he looked frustrated when he went off. So, interesting now to see what happens with him on Saturday.

"Does Le Bris keep Aleksic back in there? Or maybe brings him back out and he'll have to reassess, keep his head down and train again."

Listen to more from Danny Collins on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris said his team have "earned" their top-six place after a point against Norwich was enough to ensure they will be in the play-offs.

"It's a great achievement for the team, the staff and the club, so it's nice to be in the play-offs and have another purpose," he told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"We earned this opportunity and now it's important to manage the squad properly, to give some minutes to the youngest players so they can learn from experiences, and for the others who have played many games so far, it will be an opportunity to find the right balance, to be in good shape and refresh when necessary.

"In the first half we were too reserved, but after 30 minutes it was a little bit better, and during half time we spoke about the boldness we had to have, away against a strong team, and it was better in the second half."

Image source, PA Media

Sunderland winger Romaine Mundle could miss the rest of the season after suffering a recurrence of a hamstring injury during Saturday's 1-0 win at West Bromwich Albion.

Striker Eliezer Mayenda deputised out wide in Mundle's absence when he went off on Saturday, while Brighton-bound Tommy Watson and Enzo Le Fee, who returned from injury at the Hawthorns, are also options.

Who would you like to see fill the spot in the final six Championship games and potential play-off matches?

Let us know your thoughts here on who should replace Mundle on the left wing and the reasons why.

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris says his side "will have to manage a tough game" when face Norwich at Carrow Road on Tuesday.

The manager told BBC Radio Newcastle: "They are a good team - really strong in possession with many threats to score, to run in behind, to dribble, to play over, to play round. Many options in this team."

With Norwich fighting for an outside chance of play-off qualification while Sunderland will confirm their spot with a positive result, Le Bris also acknowledged the "two different dynamics".

"For us, we still have to build this momentum," he said. "Every game, whatever the opponent, our squad, the team line-up, we want to be consistent.

"The progress of the team is not linear but I think for example at West Brom we showed a very strong consistency, out of possession especially.

"So this experience will be really interesting to keep learning, to keep pushing as a team, to keep improving different elements to our game."

You can listen to more from Regis Le Bris on BBC Sounds.

Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini has been reflecting on the Black Cats' win against West Brom on Saturday.

Gabbiadini told BBC Radio Newcastle: "It's the right time of the year to be winning 1-0, isn't it? Those kind of victories are very pleasing.

"It was a fantastic defensive performance again and just solidifies our position in the table as well as showing that we are a really good defensive unit and when we get the opportunity to break and cause trouble we can do that as well," he added.

"We're scoring all kinds of goals, maybe not enough of them but the variation is there, different players contributing at different times so lots to be pleased of at this stage in the season especially."

Gabbiadini also highlighted the consistency of Regis Le Bris' side.

"When things haven't been going well, we usually come back with a good result," he said.

"People were questioning our form and formation and the players that he was picking a few weeks ago after that Leeds result, the Coventry one. But all of a sudden it's just gone steady again and I think that is what we have been this season.

"We have been the most consistent team in the league.

"We maybe haven't put a scintillating run of five wins out of six in there which makes you an automatic promotion contender but our consistency levels when we're a team that is very young and inexperienced, that has been remarkable really.

"The manager takes a lot of credit and I'm sure he's very proud of his players."

Listen to more Sunderland discussion on BBC Sounds.

Sunderland's 1-0 win at West Brom marked Anthony Patterson's 50th clean sheet for the club.

The goalkeeper has made 159 appearances for the Black Cats having come through their academy.

He has previously come under criticism this season when it comes to commanding his box and coming out to catch crosses but boasts a clean sheet every 3.18 games.

Talking to BBC Radio Newcastle's Nick Barnes after reaching the milestone at The Hawthorns, Patterson said: "I didn't have a great deal to do but it shows the character of the lads who dug in really well and defended with their hearts on their sleeves to keep the ball away from me, which I'm thankful for.

"We knew what West Brom were going to be like," Patterson added.

"They were going to be good with the ball, make it really difficult for us. I think everyone defended really, really well and that showed in the game. We came away with three points and a clean sheet."

You can listen to more from Anthony Patterson on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Sunderland legend Gary Bennett has praised the Black Cats' defensive performance during their 1-0 win at West Brom on Saturday.

The former captain called the victory a "fantastic result" and a "great team performance" after his commentary on BBC Radio Newcastle.

"Anthony Patterson didn't have a great deal to do," Bennett said.

"He made a tremendous save in the second half late on where he's dived to his left-hand post to keep the ball out but overall you've got to say defensively we were excellent.

"You're putting your body on the line. Getting your head in. You're blocking shots. Fantastic."

Hear more of Gary Bennett's reaction to Sunderland's win on BBC Sounds.

Norwich City host Sunderland on Tuesday (19:45 BST) in a bid to gain some ground in the play-off race.

A run of lacklustre results has left the Canaries eight points adrift of the top six, winning just one of their past six league matches (D2 L3).

While, the Black Cats are as many points behind a place in the automatic promotion spots but recent form may have them feeling there's an outside chance of stealing one away after two successive league wins.

• Norwich have lost three of their last four league games against Sunderland (W1), as many as their previous 11 beforehand (W5 D3 L3).

• After their 2-1 win in December, Sunderland could record a first league double over Norwich City since 1984-85 in the top-flight under Len Ashurst.

• Norwich's home games in the Championship this season have seen 72 goals (45 for, 27 against) at an average of 3.6 per game. Only in 1962-63 (4.1) and 2018-19 (3.7) have their home matches produced a higher average over a league campaign.

• Sunderland are unbeaten in their last 11 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games (W5 D6) since a 0-1 defeat to Leicester City in March 2024.

• Norwich's Josh Sargent has scored in both of his two league starts against Sunderland, netting in August 2022 and March 2024.

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris says it is "possible" that winger Romaine Mundle could miss the rest of the season following a return of his hamstring injury in Saturday's 1-0 win at West Brom.

The head coach told BBC Radio Newcastle's Nick Barnes: "We don't have a timeline. We are seeking other advice so we will have to wait."

Striker Eliezer Mayenda was selected as Mundle's replacement on the left-wing despite other options available on the bench.

Tommy Watson, who is joining Brighton in the summer, was an unused substitute and Enzo Le Fee previously played there before he was injured.

Le Fee returned to the side from the bench in his favoured central role against West Brom and Le Bris has previously stated he is keen to keep him as a number 10 going forward.

Discussing whether Mundle's injury changes those plans, Le Bris added: "First of all we have to protect Enzo.

"The question mark for him is to gradually improve his shape and his connection to the team without being a rush. We still have six games left in this league. So, many experiences, many opportunities to test different options."

A win at Norwich on Tuesday would finally confirm Sunderland's place in the Championship play-offs, and with a handful of games left to go, it gives Le Bris plenty of time to find the best way to replace Mundle and also gently bring back Le Fee from his injury.

The Frenchman added: "The core of the group is still small but we are in a very good place and we can manage a little bit more now, the rotation, the experiences we can give. Some for some young players and to rotate a bit more of the squad."

You can listen to more from Regis Le Bris ahead of Norwich on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Head coach Regis Le Bris praised "warrior" Trai Hume after the Northern Ireland international defender scored Sunderland's winner for the second successive game.

Hume followed up his goal against Millwall with a free-kick winner against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.

"When you have a left-back score it's very positive for the team," Le Bris said.

"For the last two games, Trai has been really important, and for the next fixture, other players will be able to score."

Le Bris says Hume's set-pieces bring a new "layer" to his profile.

"He's really well balanced and if he can add this ability to his game, it changes his profile towards the next level," Le Bris added.

"Trai is a warrior – even if he has an injury he wants to play."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked you if you thought Regis Le Bris was the best Sunderland boss over the last two decades, starting with the beginning of Mick McCarthy's reign in 2003.

Some of you think the Frenchman gets top billing, while for others names like Tony Mowbray and Roy Keane still live long in the the memory.

Here's what you had to say:

Kelly: Tony Mowbray was the manager to weed out the numerous wrongs and pick a players that complemented each other. Not fussy, just simple, straightforward good-quality football. Regis is now benefitting from Tony's team work and has fitted in seamlessly.

Craig: I think Mowbray is. He did it when the team had lost a manager unplanned, he didn't have any signings and the owners only got him to survive and didn't expect him to be as successful as he was, this meant they had to stick with him until he had a sticky patch.

I like RLB but in recent couple of months the team have stalled and he isn't showing another dimension to his coaching yet even though these are his players.

Robert: Impossible to answer. I thought Keane was tremendous. He galvanised us like nobody I have seen and it was a pity he left. He is wasted as a pundit. There's no doubt for me that RLB is the most forward-thinking appointment made since Alan Durban. He's definitely the man to take us forward.

Geoff: Given the squad he has at his disposal, I reckon he's doing a great job. Peter Reid takes some beating though.

David: RLB is arguably the best manager we've had since Peter Reid. His tactical acumen is impressive, and his post-match honesty is refreshing - he doesn't sugar-coat performances, which is a welcome change.

However, if there's one area for improvement, it's his use of substitutions and the limited opportunities given to players on the fringes of the first eleven. That said, he's had to contend with a significant number of injuries, not to mention the board's frustrating habit of signing players who are already carrying knocks.

Despite these challenges, RLB has done an excellent job so far. If he's given the right backing and a bit more luck on the injury front, he could be the one to finally take us forward.

Another game with huge play-off implications takes place at The Hawthorns on Saturday (15:00 BST) as West Bromwich Albion welcome Sunderland.

Tony Mowbray's side are clinging on to their top-six spot on goal difference with seven games remaining while his former club remain in the fourth spot they have occupied every week bar two since early December, and may well remain there until the season finishes, with a nine point gap to third-placed Burnley and a 13-point cushion over Coventry in fifth.

The Baggies have won just one of their past five games and saw a six-match unbeaten run ended at Norwich on Saturday while the Black Cats made it 10 points from their past seven games with a narrow win over Millwall at the weekend.

• West Bromwich Albion have won none of their past four league games against Sunderland (D1 L3) since a 2-1 win in December 2022.

• Sunderland have won each of their past two away league matches against West Brom and are looking to win three in a row for the first time since winning their first five there between 1890 and 1894.

• West Brom have lost one of their past 15 home league games (W7 D7) and have won four of their six games at the Hawthorns (D1 L1) since Tony Mowbray returned to the club.

• Sunderland have won 20 league games this season, their most in a campaign within the top-two tiers of English football since winning 27 in 2006-07.

• West Brom midfielder Alex Mowatt has completed 1,993 passes in the Championship this season, an average of 62 per 90 minutes which is the most by a Baggies player in a league season that Opta has on record.

Image source, Getty Images

Regis Le Bris has taken Sunderland to fourth in the Championship in his first season in charge.

But is he the best boss of the past couple of decades at the Stadium of Light?

"It was a big gamble to take someone who nobody had heard about," Sunderland commentator Nick Barnes told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"It was a bold, brave appointment and credit to the club that they appear to have got it right.

"No Sunderland fan I'd spoken to thought they'd be in the top six or certainly top four at this stage of the season."

Let us know your thoughts on who you think Sunderland's best boss has been since Mick McCarthy took the reins in 2003 and why they get your vote.

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris says that the Black Cats were keen to keep hold of Brighton-bound Tommy Watson - but is trying to look on the bright side of the teenager's move.

Watson, 18, signed for the Seagulls in a deal worth £10m on Tuesday and will join the Premier League side in the summer.

"We have to accept the situation. The timing is not ideal but at the same time we know that Tommy had multiple offers from Premier League clubs before," Le Bris told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"We declined and tried to renew his contract. It wasn't possible in the end. So, it's his decision and we have to move on.

"I hope it's a positive output for the club financially at least and for the future of the club, we'll see."

Despite the winger's departure at the end of the season, it does not mean he won't play a role in Sunderland's hunt for promotion.

"I think he will be involved because he is professional and this situation is not unusual in football and you have to deal with it," Le Bris added.

"So, the timing is a little bit weird. I accept that and it's clear, but at the same time we want to push on until the end of the season."

Meanwhile, midfielder Enzo Le Fee and defender Leo Hjelde are both expected to make their return from injury for Saturday's trip to promotion rivals West Brom.

Listen to the full pre-match press conference on the Total Sport podcast.

Sunderland met up with an old boss when they hosted Alex Neil's Millwall at the weekend and have now got yet another reunion on the cards - a trip to The Hawthorns to see Tony Mowbray's West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

Black Cats commentator Nick Barnes has been giving his insight on both managers, from his "spiky start" with Neil to chats with "remarkable" Mowbray.

"Tony Mowbray is one of the nicest men in football you will ever meet," Barnes told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"He was honest, he was thoughtful and I know it got difficult for him towards the end of his time at Sunderland... and the dignity in which he dealt with that shows the mark of the man.

"Over the 22 years I've covered Sunderland, he is up there with one of the best to deal with."

The game on Saturday will be watched with keen eyes, though less for a glimpse of Mowbray but more for what both teams may expect should they face off again in the play-offs in May.

However, Barnes is hoping it's not a match-up we will get to see come the end of the season.

"It's a difficult scenario, West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland in the play-offs, because I think there's a part of everybody who would love to see Tony get some poetic justice - but you don't want it at Sunderland's expense," he said.

"Most Sunderland fans would accept he was harshly dealt with and it wasn't handled particularly well.

"So this potential collision in the play-offs, it probably makes people like me more uncomfortable than Tony Mowbray, but it's certainly one that if one can avoid it, I'd like to avoid it."

Listen to the full episode and more on the Total Sport podcast.

Former Sunderland forward Martin Smith says he is disappointed in Tommy Watson's decision to leave the club but understands the pull of a club like Brighton given their reputation for developing young players in the Premier League.

Earlier on Tuesday, Brighton agreed a deal worth £10m to sign the 18-year-old this summer.

Talking on BBC Radio Newcastle's Total Sport, Smith says: "There's been noises that teams have been interested and obviously he's been wanting away if he hasn't signed a new contract which is sort of disappointing.

"But you can half understand in terms of, if you're going to go anywhere, you can understand the pull of Brighton now because of what they're doing with young lads."

The former Black Cats star added: "It'll be interesting to see how he does because you go there, unless they sell Kaoru Mitoma in the summer, he's probably going to be sitting on the bench or looking to get a loan."

You can listen to more reaction to Watson leaving Sunderland on BBC Sounds.