Will Sunderland’s Patience Finally Pay Off?

An ongoing eight year wait for a return to the Premier League was certainly not meant to be written into the Sunderland script.

For the youth of today, Sunderland’s presence across the second and third tiers has become the norm. When in reality, they have spent the majority of their existence in England’s top flight. So, when failed League One campaigns, relegations and Wembley tears plastered all over a Netflix docu-series have undermined generations of tradition, triumph, and trophies – you get the impression something needs fixing.

Despite all that has occurred in the Black Cats’ decade of bad luck, they are turning a new chapter. Under new management, Sunderland are cruising in the Championship Playoff four-fold. And while they avoid badgering the automatic promotion horde, Regis Le Bris has been given an extended warm-up for his youthful side’s inevitable playoff contest.

A Lengthy Process

The League One Sunderland almost feels like a lifetime ago. When Tony Mowbray was appointed as boss on the Black Cats’ 2022 Championship return, every Mackem fan had the desire of piercing through the second tier, back to their Premier League residence. However, they knew deep down it was not that easy, and it may take some time to adjust.

Welcome to #SAFC, Tony Mowbray ✍️

The 58-year-old has signed a two-year contract on Wearside!

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) August 30, 2022

Sunderland are now completing their third season back in the Championship, ready to resurge their failed playoff run in 2023’s edition, after the use of four managers and the departures of key players such as Jack Clarke, Pierre Ekwah and Ross Stewart. The three years have shown various improvements for the club. Although last season was a slight blip finishing 16th, this year has sparked a fresh scent in the North East. Unlike their playoff chase this time two years ago, Sunderland are comfortable. The youngest squad in the Championship are being guided in the right direction by French mentor Regis Le Bris – a mastermind when it comes to nurturing young talent.

The former Lorient head coach has rapidly sped up Sunderland’s outright goal of finding Premier League freedom. Standing on 76 points in fourth position, the Black Cats are in the middle ground in the Championship promotion scuttle – neither risking their playoff spot nor knocking on the door of the top two. Despite their security in the playoffs, Sunderland may well should be part of the Championship automatic promotion contest. For the first half of this season, they were well and truly submerged in a four-horse race with Burnley, Leeds and Sheffield United, but points lost on a span of five draws back in November ultimately collapsed these hopes.

(Stats by Opta)

Growing With Age

One thing that must be said about Sunderland is that they do not always operate the conventional way. Instead of spending the most money, they take a different route. One which includes finding adolescent, hungry players and raising them to be the next big thing. A fundamental reason why the Black Cats have been sailing on this gradual improvement is because their players are growing better with age and development. This season’s fortune has been driven by Le Bris’ high pressing play – staying compact and breaking the lines. The youth at the manager’s disposal are the simple basis as to how this philosophy has been orchestrated. Each player has plenty of fuel in their tank to outwork their opponents, offering age as a superlative to experience.

Creative, hardworking, intelligent; these are all traits of the Bellingham family repertoire. When Jobe Bellingham made an unexpected jump across the Championship to Sunderland in 2023, he was exactly the player the Blacks Cats were looking for. The 19-year-old has grabbed 11 goals and four assists in his first two years at Sunderland, amidst a variety of positions. Jobe embodies Regis Le Bris’ tactics to a tee - playing on the pivot and linking the midfield with the attack has seen him excel, demonstrated by his 85.5% passing success rate.

(Stats by Opta)

His teenage counterpart Chris Rigg encapsulates every ounce of the North East’s factory of talent. Without even being old enough to buy a scratch card, the 17-year-old has contributed to Sunderland’s pool of goals four times this season – earning himself a place on England’s under-19 side and start for the Black Cats each week.

Focussing on how important Sunderland’s full-backs are to their system, Trai Hume has offered every shred of quality this term. At 23 years of age, the Northern Irishman has contributed to nine goals this campaign, including six assists from the right flank. Now in his third year at the club, Hume has matured into one of Sunderland’s more senior players, coming a long way from the League One days.

The highest rated players in the Championship on @WhoScored:

1️⃣ Trai Hume - 7.22
2️⃣ Jimmy Dunne - 7.21
➡️ Borja Sainz - 7.21
4️⃣ Junior Firpo - 7.19
5️⃣ Jaidon Anthony - 7.15
6️⃣ Luke McNally - 7.13
7️⃣ Manor Solomon - 7.12#SAFC #QPR pic.twitter.com/y0EXFSo1pc

— Second Tier podcast (@secondtierpod) April 14, 2025

It is not just these three either; Sunderland's entire squad encompasses explicitly how running a club based on academy gems and scouting steals can progress you up the leagues.

Could This Be The Year?

As previously mentioned, Sunderland’s access into the automatic spots has near enough been denied. However, with four games remaining and playoffs already confirmed, Le Bris’ men have no excuse but to be the most prepared team entering that playoff first leg in May.

Sheffield United have stooped outside of the top two as of late; the failure of missing out on automatic promotion would bring absolute heartbreak to the Blades after the season they have had. Should they have to go through playoffs, it may be too late for them to let the dust of automatics settle. As for the other two playoff places, it is a toss up between scramblers Bristol City, Coventry City, West Bromwich Albion, Middlesbrough, and Millwall.

(EFL Championship League Table)

If you put the shoe on the other foot, the first thing you want heading into a potential extra three matches is momentum. Whichever team grasps the fifth and sixth spots come the final game will be on an absolute high, providing real threat to a settled Sunderland.