Sunderland got back to winning ways against Millwall on Saturday but Jobe Bellingham admits they still want to make improvements ahead of the Championship run-in.
Sunderland beat Millwall 1-0 on Saturday at the Stadium of Light as they began their Championship run-in with a positive display.
Regis Le Bris’ side ran out comfortable victors thanks to Trai Hume’s exceptional first-half volley was met by a wonderful Patrick Roberts corner-kick routine.
Sunderland were not back to their fluid best against Millwall, with performances still failing to reach the intense heights of earlier in the campaign.
However, the Black Cats remain comfortably in the Championship’s fourth place and seem destined to finish the regular season with a play-off spot.
After the victory over Alex Neil’s Millwall, dynamic Sunderland midfielder Jobe Bellingham revealed after the game the two key areas Le Bris’ side are trying to improve, which could be pivotal for their promotion prospects.
Bellingham admits Sunderland want to improve set-pieces
According to whoscored.com, Sunderland have scored 12 goals from set-pieces so far this Championship campaign, totaling 21% of their overall 56-goal return.
Fellow promotion-hopefuls Coventry are second-highest for set piece goals this term with 14, with the Sky Blues trumped only by relegation candidates Derby County with 17 set piece goals.
Despite Sunderland scoring more set piece goals than the trio of Sheffield United, Leeds and Burnley who sit above them, Bellingham has revealed scoring more goals from set plays is an area Le Bris’ side are actively trying to improve.
| Championship’s top-six | Goals from set-pieces so far in 2024-25 Championship season |
| 1st – Sheffield United | 10 |
| 2nd – Leeds United | 10 |
| 3rd – Burnley | 11 |
| 4th – Sunderland | 12 |
| 5th – Coventry | 14 |
| 6th – West Brom | 13 |
On Hume’s goal coming from a set-piece, Bellingham told Sunderland’s media: “It’s something we work on and it’s something we do discuss in meetings, about the teams who do succeed in this league, you’ve got to score a certain amount of set pieces.
“So yeah, if we want to be successful we’ve got to score with a variation of goals and we’re starting to do that.”
Sunderland are trying to get back their “fluidity”
Whilst Bellingham shone on international duty for England, the 19-year-old also revealed his Sunderland teammates have informed him they’ve made clear their ambitions to get back to their “fluid” best ahead of the pivotal Championship run-in.
Bellingham added: “Over the last couple of weeks the lads have been telling me when I’ve been away, they’ve been going over things and trying to get back to that style of play, the way of playing, the fluidity as well from the start of the season.
“We’re just trying to bring that back and gather some momentum.”
Sunderland’s victory over Millwall at the weekend could provide the springboard for their seven pivotal fixtures that remain before the regular season curtails, with Tony Mowbray’s West Brom next up.
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In Bellingham’s words, if Sunderland can become even more of a threat from set-pieces whilst getting back to their dangerous best that fans were blown away by earlier this season, then they will be a frightening prospect for any of their potential play-off opposition.