A Premier League juggernaut has extended its lead atop the table, while its main title challenger has been held at home in a shock result.
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Elsewhere, Newcastle’s winning streak has been snapped in comprehensive fashion in another surprise outcome.
REDS STEADY SHIP TO REIGNITE TITLE CHARGE
Darwin Nunez struck twice in the final minutes as Liverpool got their Premier League title charge back on track with a dramatic 2-0 win against Brentford on Saturday.
Arne Slot’s side were in danger of enduring a third successive league draw after wasting a host of chances at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Of all the candidates to end Liverpool’s wobble, Uruguay striker Nunez would have been low down the list given his struggles over the last two seasons.
But he rode to Liverpool’s rescue with a stoppage-time brace that lifted the Reds’ seven points clear of second-placed Arsenal.
The Gunners can close the gap back to four points with a win against Aston Villa in Saturday’s late game.
But Liverpool will hold a game in hand on Arsenal and have the destiny of the title still firmly in their grasp thanks to the much-maligned Nunez.
Slot had admitted he couldn’t find a way to get the best out of the former Benfica star earlier this week.
The 25-year-old had scored just four goals in 26 games in all competitions prior to his unexpected double in west London.
Slot will gratefully take Nunez’s contribution as Liverpool’s first win in three league games kept them on course for a first title since 2020.
Since the turn of the year, Liverpool had only won one game in four in all competitions, beating minnows Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup third round.
They had drawn their previous two league games against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, while also losing 1-0 at Tottenham in the League Cup semi-final first leg, making this victory essential to steady their nerves.
Brentford kicked off with the joint-best home record in the Premier League, an impressive statistic they underlined by scoring twice in the closing stages to draw 2-2 with Manchester City on Tuesday.
Postecoglou: ‘Spurs need reinforcements’ | 01:11
GUNNERS COUGH UP 2-0 LEAD IN COSTLY DRAW
Liverpool now holds a six-point Premier League lead over Arsenal, who blew a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Gabriel Martinelli gave the Gunners a deserved first-half lead when Emi Martinez failed to prevent his effort crossing the line.
It was a similar story for Arsenal’s second as Martinez got a touch to Kai Havertz’s shot but could not keep it out.
Just when Mikel Arteta’s men seemed to be cruising, Villa hit back through Youri Tielemans’ header.
The Belgian midfielder then hit the post with the chance to level for Villa seconds later.
The visitors did equalise 22 minutes from time when Ollie Watkins cushioned in Matty Cash’s cross off the underside of the crossbar.
Arsenal thought they had a late winner, but Mikel Merino’s effort deflected in off Havertz’s hand and the goal was ruled out by a VAR review.
Haaland signs monster deal with City | 01:21
CHERRIES STUNNER TO SNAP MAGPIES’ STREAK
Justin Kluivert’s stunning hat-trick snapped Newcastle’s winning streak in style as Bournemouth stormed into the Premier League’s top six with a rampant 4-1 win at St. James’ Park on Saturday.
The Magpies were looking to set a club record with a 10th consecutive victory in all competitions but were thoroughly outplayed by the Cherries, who are themselves now on an 11-game unbeaten streak.
Kluivert, son of former Newcastle striker Patrick Kluivert, was the star of the show before Milos Kerkez fired in a fourth in stoppage time.
Defeat leaves Newcastle still in fourth but now just one point clear of Bournemouth in the race for a place in next season’s Champions League.
Bournemouth have never qualified for European competition before and Kluivert said that is the goal for an ambitious squad.
“Why not dream big and let’s see where we can end up,” said the Dutch international.
“Our run is also beautiful and that’s what we showed here today; that we are here to make an impression.” Alexander Isak’s hopes of matching the Premier League record scoring streak of 11 matches also came to an end on a humbling afternoon for the Magpies.
The Swedish striker had struck in eight consecutive games but was barely given a sniff of a chance by a brilliant Bournemouth display.
Andoni Iraola’s men flew out of the traps and never let up to move above defending champions Manchester City in the table.
The visitors should have led inside four minutes when Dango Ouattara’s shot was saved by Martin Dubravka and Antoine Semenyo blasted the rebound over.
Bournemouth had to wait just two minutes more to take the lead when Semenyo’s cut-back was swept into the far corner by Kluivert.
Newcastle were shellshocked in the early stages but looked to have restored some order when Bruno Guimaraes headed in Lewis Hall’s corner.
Yet the home side headed in at half-time behind once more after another classy finish from Kluivert to turn in Ouattara’s pass.
Bournemouth should have been well out of sight before they did finally get the third goal in stoppage time.
Ouattara had a goal disallowed by a VAR review as the ball had gone out of play before the Burkina Faso international prodded home.
David Brooks’s inventive backheel was then denied by a combination of Dubravka and the post.
Bournemouth were robbed of a famous victory in midweek when Reece James’ stoppage time free-kick rescued a point for Chelsea in a 2-2 draw.
This time, though, they were not to be denied of three thoroughly deserved points.
Kluivert took aim from outside the box to complete his second hat-trick of the season.
However, all three efforts this time came from open play after his trio of penalties downed Wolves in November.
The impressive Kerkez, who has been linked with a move to Liverpool and Manchester United, then drilled in the fourth to rub salt into Newcastle wounds.
Under-fire Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou said he was angry his injury-ravaged side did not get their rewards for a battling performance as Alexander Isak’s strike earned in-form Newcastle a 2-1 win on Saturday.
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Both sides struck inside the first six minutes as Anthony Gordon’s controversial equaliser cancelled out Dominic Solanke’s opener for Spurs.
Isak then scored for the seventh consecutive Premier League game to claim a sixth straight win in all competitions for Newcastle.
The Magpies remain in fifth but move level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea in the battle for a place in next season’s Champions League.
Spurs’ ambition of a top-four finish already looks over after a run of one win in eight league games since a stunning 4-0 victory at Premier League champions Manchester City.
Tottenham sit 11th in the table, but a spirited performance from Postecoglou’s stretched squad deserved more as Newcastle were left clinging on in the closing stages.
Postecoglou said he was furious his team didn’t “get the rewards they deserved today”, describing himself as “angriest I think I have ever been in my career”.
Spurs to target January transfer window | 01:10
“I loved everything. The players were given an enormous task and didn’t make any excuses. We deserved to win the game today,” he added.
Spurs were without first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario along with defenders Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies through injury plus the suspended Rodrigo Bentancur.
The loss of stand-in ‘keeper Fraser Forster to illness meant Postecoglou was forced to throw in Brandon Austin for his Spurs debut.
Slow starts, particularly at home, have been a major part of Spurs’ struggles under Postecoglou but they got off to a flyer.
In front of the watching new England manager Thomas Tuchel, Solanke did his case for international recognition no harm with a fine downward header from Pedro Porro’s cross on four minutes.
The lead lasted barely over two minutes, albeit the equaliser arrived in controversial circumstances.
Joelinton blocked Lucas Bergvall’s pass with his arm to gift Bruno Guimaraes possession and the Brazilian fed in Gordon to fire home.
Ange Postecoglou said he was angry his injury-ravaged side did not get their rewards.Source: Getty Images
However, a VAR review deemed Joelinton’s handball was not deliberate and the goal stood.
Isak needs no help to find the net on current form but got it from an under-manned Spurs defence seven minutes before half-time.
“I think it’s clear,” Postecoglou said after the game about the handball.
“Whether people agree with me or not whether it wasn’t handball or it was accidental, I’m just not interested in any of that discussion. What I’m saying is, on any given day with a fair and even playing field and logical thought processes, we would have won that game.”
Radu Dragusin deflected Jacob Murphy’s low cross onto the foot of the Swedish striker, who took his tally for the season to 14 goals in all competitions.
Spurs were dealt a further blow as Dragusin, who had been a doubt due to illness, was forced off at the break, leaving Postecoglou without a single natural centre-back to choose from.
Midfielder Archie Gray and full-back Djed Spence deputised manfully as Tottenham did all the pressing in the second half.
Brennan Johnson blasted off the post after Pape Sarr’s effort had been parried by Martin Dubravka.
Despite Spurs’ lack of bodies at the back, they did have the luxury of introducing Son Heung-min and James Maddison off the bench in the hunt for an equaliser.
Maddison flashed a curling shot inches wide from a short corner before Johnson and Sergio Reguilon both drilled low efforts across the face of goal.
But Newcastle held out to cap a brilliant festive period for Eddie Howe’s men that has propelled them into the running for a return to the Champions League.
“Second half we had to defend really well. I’m really pleased to get over the line and win the game,” said Howe.
Mohamed Salah scored twice as Liverpool stretched Newcastle’s miserable run with a 4-2 victory at Anfield to open up a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League on Monday.
Jurgen Klopp’s team should have run out even more convincing winners as Martin Dubravka saved Salah’s first-half penalty among 10 stops.
But Salah made amends from the spot after he, Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo had netted in the second half to inflict a seventh defeat in eight games on Newcastle.
Liverpool head into the Premier League’s winter break five points clear of title rivals Manchester City and Arsenal, with Aston Villa posing an unexpected challenge in second place.
Newcastle, by contrast, remain down in ninth and 11 points off the top four as the spotlight grows on Eddie Howe.
The Magpies have the second worst away record in the Premier League this season and were fortunate not to be blown away by an embarrassing scoreline in stormy conditions at Anfield.
Liverpool finished with an expected goals tally of 7.27, the highest in Premier League history.
Trent Alexander-Arnold had sent the first warning shot just wide inside two minutes as Liverpool flew out of the blocks.
Dubravka has struggled to deputise for the sidelined Nick Pope as Newcastle’s form has slumped in recent weeks while battling an injury crisis.
But the Slovakian was in top form as he denied Darwin Nunez from close range. Luis Diaz did have the ball in the net shortly afterwards, but the goal was ruled out for off-side against Nunez.
Diaz was then up-ended in the box by Sven Botman. But Dubravka bailed out the Dutch defender by denying Salah his 150th Premier League goal for Liverpool from the spot.
The Egyptian, who was playing in his final game before heading out to the African Cup of Nations, has now missed four of his last 10 spot-kicks for the Reds.
Salah celebrates his opening goal.Source: AFP
Liverpool’s frustration grew as the first half wore on and they were inches away from being hit with a sucker punch.
Dan Burn headed in at the far post, but this time the off-side flag saved the home side as Alexander Isak strayed beyond the last defender earlier in the move.
Finally Liverpool’s pressure told early in the second period as for once Nunez showed a cool head to pick out Salah for a tap in.
Nunez should then have put the game beyond doubt as twice Dubravka stood up and showed strong wrists to parry powerful efforts from the Uruguayan.
And completely against the run of play, Newcastle equalised just five minutes after falling behind.
This time Isak timed his run to perfection to latch onto Anthony Gordon’s through ball and the Swedish striker slotted confidently past the advancing Alisson Becker.
That shock did not change the course of the game as the one-way traffic towards the Newcastle goal continued.
There were some promising signs for Newcastle despite another defeat.Source: AFP
Nunez’s night ended in frustration as another golden chance came and went with his final touch as he headed wide.
Jurgen Klopp sent on Diogo Jota and Gakpo and they delivered when Nunez did not in front of goal.
Jota teed up Jones for a tap in before Gakpo’s scuffed finish from Salah’s cross wrong-footed Dubravka.
Botman’s header briefly brought Newcastle back within one goal. But any hope of a remarkable fightback was extinguished in controversial fashion as Jota won a second penalty despite a delayed reaction to contact from Dubravka.
Klopp could not watch on the touchline, but this time his talisman did not disappoint to ensure the start to 2024 was a very happy new year for Liverpool.
Most of the football community’s eyeballs are firmly fixated on the title race at the top of the Premier League and rightly so.
But cast them a little lower to the Championship and those same eyeballs will be popping out of their sockets once they see the eight-team logjam in the hunt for promotion.
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The 46-game marathon that is English football’s second division is nearing the finish line and once again, it’s thrown up twists and turns we could scarcely have seen coming.
Like most seasons, we have a runaway leader who has wiped the floor with just about everyone and can already start preparing for life in the Premier League.
Yet not even 2nd place, the other position which seals automatic promotion, is sewn up.
In fact, there’s only seven points separating 5th place from 12th, meaning no position can be taken for granted.
With teams having either seven or eight games left in the season, the race for Premier League riches is not done by any stretch as a $AUD282 million payday awaits the winner of the play-off final.
So, who’s going up and who’s staying put?
Foxsports.com.au takes a look at who are the contenders and the pretenders in the annual Championship Run Home!
Burnley’s six-year stay in the Premier League came to a sad end last season after finishing 18th.
To make matters worse, the Clarets bid farewell to the heart of their backline as Nick Pope, Ben Mee, James Tarkowski and Nathaniel Collins all departed for pastures new.
Burnley began their pre-season with a threadbare squad such was the vast amount of departures, but there was one major arrival: Vincent Kompany.
The Manchester City legend arrived at Turf Moor as the new manager after a three-year spell with Belgian giants Anderlecht and immediately hit the refresh button.
The profiles of incoming players was completely different to what Burnley fans had become accustomed to, as younger faces came through the door.
Not only that, Kompany set about overhauling the club’s style of play and boy, has he done it in style.
From playing one of the most direct brands of football, Burnley now boast a free-flowing, expansive style of play the Turf Moor faithful have only seen from opposition teams.
It is a style that’s worked a treat, as Kompany’s side have walked the Championship at a canter and are all but assured of a place in the Premier League next season.
Southampton loanee Nathan Tella has been one of several shining stars in this Burnley outfit having scored 17 league goals and will want even more in the run-in.
You can return Turf Moor to the list of Premier League away days in the 2023/24 season.
Nathan Tella has been a revelation for Burnley. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
2nd: Sheffield United, 73 pts, +26 GD
Having qualified for the play-offs but fallen short last year against Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United had the bit between their teeth for another promotion push this season.
The Blades didn’t require major surgery in the summer, as Paul Heckingbottom managed to retain the nucleus of the squad.
In an industry where chopping and changing is seen as the norm, Sheffield United’s reluctance to follow the trend has been proven key.
Heckingbottom’s side first crept into the play-off spots as early as August 17 and have not been squeezed out of the top six since.
In fact, the Blades have held second spot since November 21.
Although a rocky patch in recent months nudged the door open for their rivals to close the gap, Sheffield United have picked up crucial wins when they need to.
However, off-season issues have forced the club into a transfer embargo due to a failure to pay transfer instalments to rival clubs for a number of their players.
New ownership is reportedly not far off and will have a large in-tray of issues to resolve, but if the Blades can get the business done on the field, it allows everyone to breathe a little easier at Bramall Lane.
Can Paul Heckingbottom lift the Blades back to the top flight? (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
3rd: Middlesbrough, 67 pts, +25 GD
Talk about a change in fortunes.
Middlesbrough began the season with Chris Wilder in the hot seat, but after a disastrous start in which the club lost five of the opening 11 games and languished in the relegation zone, swift action was required.
Enter Manchester United legend Michael Carrick.
Since the former England midfielder’s arrival on October 24, Middlesbrough have been on a tear.
It has taken Carrick 23 games to lose as many games as Wilder did.
Not only that, but he has turned Middlesbrough into a team who scores for fun, as the Teesside outfit has the second-highest amount of goals scored with a staggering 71.
Socceroos star Riley McGree has been one major beneficiary of Carrick’s guidance, scoring four goals and notching two assists since the manager’s arrival.
But no Middlesbrough player has been transformed as much as Chuba Akpom, who has a league-leading tally of 24 goals.
Catching Sheffield United in second may prove to be a task too difficult, but Middlesbrough are not a team any of the top six will want to face in the play-offs.
Highly-regarded statistics site FiveThirtyEight have also given Middlesbrough the glowing endorsement when it comes to their chance of being promoted, which sits at 33 per cent – the most of teams outside the top two.
Middlesbrough have been transformed under Michael Carrick. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
4th: Luton Town, 67 pts, +13 GD
Fancy seeing you here yet again, Luton Town.
The Hatters were sitting pretty in mid-table under former manager Nathan Jones, but he was plucked from Kenilworth Road by Southampton in November, who went on to fire him just 14 games into his tenure.
The last time Luton lost Jones to a rival, they were almost relegated before Jones returned like a knight in shining armour to save the day.
There were fears the Welshman’s departure could have had a similar effect on the club, but Rob Edwards not only steadied the ship, he’s made the Hatters an even more entertaining team.
Edwards arrived during the World Cup break and has hit the ground running once play resumed in December.
In that time, Luton have lost only three times but more importantly have found a way to close out games.
Of the 11 games Edwards has overseen as Hatters boss, six of those have been 1-0 victories, demonstrating the steely mentality of this Luton team which could go a long way in the play-offs.
Leading the charge for Luton is goal machine Carlton Morris, who has found the back of the net 16 times in league action.
Is there one big chapter left to be written in this football fairytale?
Luton striker Carlton Morris has been scoring for fun. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
5th: Millwall, 61 pts, +8 GD
Who would’ve thought a club-record £1.7m signing would have such an impact?
Unless you’re Millwall boss Gary Rowett or Zian Flemming himself, you probably didn’t give the Dutchman much of a chance.
Instead, the summer signing made former star winger Jed Wallace an afterthought, scoring 13 goals as Millwall sit in the play-off spots.
It is further vindication of the club’s decision to allow Rowett plenty of time to mould the squad into what he wants, as the former Derby County boss is now the fifth-longest tenured manager in the EFL.
Aside from a sketchy run at the start of the season, Millwall have looked their resilient best as the campaign has gone on and have the fifth-best defensive record in the league having conceded just 40 goals all season long.
Former Green Bay Packers coach Bear Bryant famously said “offence sells tickets, but defence wins championships.”
Well, based on how Millwall operate, they’ll be hoping Bryant’s timeless quote rings true for them.
Zian Flemming (right) is proving to be an absolute bargain for Millwall. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
6th: Blackburn Rovers, 61 pts, +0 GD
For two years running, Blackburn Rovers have been in the play-off spots at the pointy end of the season.
Last year, they fell away and Tony Mowbray decided to leave his post at Ewood Park.
Mowbray’s replacement, Jon Dahl Tomasson, is desperately hoping his side also doesn’t fade away in similar fashion.
Blackburn have been an awfully hard team to put a finger on given it took the former Premier League champions 28 games before they chalked up their first draw of the season.
However, Rovers have been in the play-off spots for 28 of the 38 matchdays this season, providing ammunition that sometimes consistency isn’t everything.
Cult hero Ben Brereton-Diaz is once again the hero at Ewood Park with 12 league goals to his name but is reportedly off to pastures new in the summer as the 23-year-old is set to join La Liga outfit Villarreal.
If the English-born Chilean international can help Blackburn return to the top flight after over a decade away, he’ll leave the club a hero.
Ben Brereton-Diaz is once again amongst the goals for Blackburn. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
7th: Norwich City, 57 pts, +10 GD
Norwich City’s bid to bounce straight back into the Premier League began in blistering fashion, winning seven of their first 11 games to sit pretty in second place.
However, results soon took a turn for the worse as Dean Smith was let go by the Canaries after a run of seven losses in 12 games towards the end of 2022.
Taking Smith’s place at Carrow Road was David Wagner, a familiar face to Norwich sporting director Stuart Webber given the pair’s time at Huddersfield where they helped the Terriers get promoted to the Premier League.
The German hasn’t exactly set Norwich alight since joining, with the Canaries bumbling along and, most importantly, still in the play-off mix.
However, it seems the club is headed for a huge summer overhaul as the glaring squad depth issues continue to bubble at the surface.
Norwich can no longer rely on a 33-year-old Teemu Pukki for goals and provided they don’t go up this season, Canaries fans may have to grit their teeth and embrace a longer spell in the Championship than they might’ve first anticipated.
How much longer will Norwich keep Teemu Pukki for? (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
8th: Coventry City, 57 pts, +6 GD
How Coventry City fans have any hair left is a mystery.
The Sky Blues sat bottom of the Championship for nine games before embarking on an impressive run in which they lost twice in 14 games.
That is, quite literally, the definition of flipping the script.
The World Cup break probably came at the worst possible time for Coventry as they were riding a tidal wave of momentum thanks to four wins on the trot.
A brief period of inconsistency once the Championship resumed kept Coventry in the lower end of the mid-table peloton, but since January 28, Mark Robins’ side have won six from 12 games.
Pivotal to the Sky Blues’ run is Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres, who has bagged 18 league goals and seems destined for the Premier League next season with our without Coventry.
Whether Coventry has enough gas in the tank for one final surge in the latter stages remains to be seen, but as they have shown this season, they won’t go quietly.
Viktor Gyokeres’s goalscoring form has not gone unnoticed from teams in the Premier League. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
9th: West Bromwich Albion, 56 pts, +8 GD
West Bromwich Albion can add itself to the lengthy list of prime examples in terms of clubs who enjoy a marked turnaround in results after a managerial change.
Having begun the season with Steve Bruce in charge, expectations were high given the former Manchester United defender’s reputation as somewhat of a promotion specialist.
As his time at the Hawthorns continued, Bruce had the Baggies sitting in the relegation zone, a far cry from what was expected.
Bruce got the boot and in came former Huddersfield Town boss Carlos Corberan.
Although Corberan’s tenure began with a loss to Sheffield United, West Brom went on to win nine of their next ten games as they quickly warmed to the former Marcelo Bielsa understudy’s methods.
Such was the impressive change in fortunes, Premier League side Leeds were heavily linked with Corberan after sacking Jesse Marsch, but the former inked a contract extension to stay at the Hawthorns.
There hasn’t quite been a single standout for West Brom this season, with the goalscoring burden shared among several of the Baggies’ stars.
A last-ditch push for the play-offs isn’t out of the question, but West Brom will be a team to fear under Corberan next season if they don’t crack the top six before the season is over.
Carlos Corberan has been a breath of fresh air for West Brom after Steve Bruce’s tenure turned toxic. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
10th: Preston North End, 56 pts, -7 GD
Despite scoring the fourth-fewest amount of goals in the Championship and being the only team with a negative goal difference in the top 13, Preston North End are, rather remarkably, still in the hunt.
To put Preston’s goalscoring woes into perspective, they had scored just three times from their first 11 games.
But on the flip side, they’d conceded only four goals in that same span.
Yep, you guessed it, that meant Lowe’s side had six scoreless draws in that space.
Thankfully for Preston fans, they’ve had just three scoreless draws in the following 28 games.
Interestingly, Preston have performed better away from Deepdale having won nine times away from home compared to just five victories on their own turf.
Could Lowe’s side somehow find their goalscoring boots in their final seven games?
It’s unlikely.
Preston boss Ryan Lowe oversaw a low-scoring start to the season. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
11th: Watford, 55 pts, +3 GD
Death, taxes and the Pozzo’s sacking managers at Watford.
Rob Edwards started the season at Vicarage Road but lasted just 10 games.
In came Slaven Bilic, who got West Bromwich Albion promoted back in the 2019/20 season, but he couldn’t work his magic and was axed less than six months into his tenure.
Chris Wilder, who began the season with Middlesbrough, became the third face installed in the dugout and has one win from four games, with that run including a loss to bitter rivals Luton Town.
All we can say is, don’t be shocked if the Pozzo’s make it three sackings in the one season with Wilder.
Chris Wilder might be wondering what he’s gotten himself into by taking up the Watford job. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
12th: Sunderland, 54 pts, +7 GD
Having spent more time in the doldrums of League One than many would have anticipated, Sunderland are back amongst the bright lights of the Championship once more.
The Black Cats’ season could have fallen off the rails when former manager Alex Neil was poached by Stoke City just six games into the season.
In came former Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray, who has proved to be a reassuring presence in the Stadium Of Light dugout.
Although Sunderland may be too far off the play-offs, they can take plenty of positives from the mere fact they appear, at least on the surface, to be a stable club.
A fully-fit Ross Stewart next season will prove the key to any promotion push.
