Sunderland suffered defeat against Swansea City last week, in Mike Dodds’ first game back in interim charge.
Sunderland lost 2-1 at home to Swansea City last weekend.
A disastrous first half saw the Black Cats lose in what was a highly-anticipated game for fans, after Sunderland sacked Michael Beale at the start of last week.
Many were hoping that Dodds would have an immediate impact on the side, but that wasn’t the case; the Black Cats now find themselves eight points outside the top six in 10th, after three-straight losses in the league.
Phil Smith makes ‘make or break’ claim about Sunderland this season
There’s now 12 games of the season remaining.
Dodds then has 12 games to make up an eight-point gap to Hull City in 6th, though with the Tigers having lost just one of their last seven in the league, winning five, it’s going to be an uphill battle for sure.
And it was only a few weeks ago that the tide was turning for Beale and Sunderland were looking up the table.
Beale got a much-needed 3-1 win over Stoke City towards the end of last month, followed by a 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough, followed by another 3-1 win at home vs Plymouth Argyle which left the Black Cats in 6th, and two points ahead of Hull who were in 7th.
But after the defeat vs Swansea, Sunderland Echo journalist Phil Smith fears that Sunderland’s season is slowly petering out.
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 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 fixtures.
“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 don’t have a very kind run of fixtures coming up; this weekend the Black Cats head to Norwich City, before a home game against Leicester City and then a trip to Southampton.
So Sunderland’s losing streak could well extend and if that happens, their season and their play-off hopes would all but diminish.
For Dodds then, this upcoming game vs Norwich City really feels like a must-win, like Smith suggests.
It’s make or break time for the Black Cats in their bid for a top-six finish this season; a win here could well alleviate defeats against Leicester and Southampton, providing that Sunderland then finish very strongly.
Their final run-in presents them with some very winnable games against QPR, Cardiff, Blackburn, Bristol City, Millwall, and Sheffield Wednesday, but then some tougher outings against Leeds United, West Brom, and Watford.
And for Dodds, not only are the next few weeks make or break for the season, but also for his potential chances of landing the Sunderland job, or even his potential chances of landing a job elsewhere in the Football League.
Kick off vs Norwich City is at 3pm on Saturday.