Sunderland lost to Swansea City last week in Mike Dodds’ first game back as temporary manager.
Sunderland fell 2-1 at home to Swansea City last weekend.
The Black Cats lost in a highly anticipated game for fans after Sunderland fired Michael Beale at the start of last week.
Many expected Dodds to have a quick impact on the team, but that was not the case; the Black Cats are now eight points outside the top six, in tenth place, following three consecutive league losses.
Phil Smith makes ‘make or break’ claim about Sunderland this season
There are now 12 games remaining in the season.
Dodds then has 12 games to close the eight-point gap to Hull City in sixth place, but with the Tigers having lost only one of their previous seven league games and winning five, it will undoubtedly be a difficult task.
Only a few weeks ago, the tide was turning in Beale’s favor, and Sunderland looked up the table.
Beale secured a much-needed 3-1 victory against Stoke City at the end of last month, followed by a 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough, and another 3-1 win at home over Plymouth Argyle, which put the Black Cats in sixth place, two points ahead of Hull in seventh.
However, following the defeat to Swansea, Sunderland Echo journalist Phil Smith feels that Sunderland’s season is winding down.
He said on the Roar Podcast:
“The season might be getting away from Sunderland a little bit.”
He added:
“I remember right after the Middlesbrough game, even though it hadn’t been a great performance from Sunderland, that they suddenly had a massive opportunity, because off the back of the Stoke win, where it felt like things had settled down a bit, getting a point against Middlesbrough, it looked as if the fixture list was quite kind, and they actually had a chance to build up a head of steam going into this run of three games.
“And instead, you’re kind of looking at it going, ‘it’s make or break time for the season’, isn’t it?”
Norwich City game now crucial for Sunderland
Sunderland’s next schedule is not favorable; the Black Cats will go to Norwich City this weekend, followed by a home game against Leicester City and a trip to Southampton.
So Sunderland’s losing skid could well continue, and if it does, their season and play-off aspirations are all but over.
For Dodds, the forthcoming game against Norwich City feels like a must-win, as Smith implies.
It’s make-or-break time for the Black Cats in their quest for a top-six finish this season; a win here may potentially offset losses to Leicester and Southampton, assuming Sunderland finishes strongly.
Their final run-in includes winnable games against QPR, Cardiff, Blackburn, Bristol City, Millwall, and Sheffield Wednesday, as well as difficult games against Leeds United, West Brom, and Watford.
And for Dodds, the next several weeks will determine not only the season, but also his chances of landing the Sunderland job, or perhaps a job somewhere in the Football League.
The match against Norwich City begins at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Leave a Reply