Sunderland go into this weekend in 2nd place of the Championship.
Up until a 3-2 defeat vs Plymouth Argyle last weekend, Sunderland were in 1st place of the Championship table.
They boasted a perfect record of four wins from four before their trip to Devon.
But that defeat vs Wayne Rooney’s side has highlighted some potential flaws in this Sunderland side, and it’s somewhat managed expectations for the rest of this 2024/25 season.
Fans are still optimistic about their side’s chances this time round. And for good reason with Sunderland having put up some impressive displays under Le Bris.
We’ll no doubt find out more about Sunderland’s promotion credentials when they take on Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light this weekend.
More than 42,000 fans will attend Sunderland v Middlesbrough in what will be a packed out Stadium of Light.
West Brom are the team in 1st right now; they sit one point above the Black Cats and are as yet unbeaten in the Championship, playing Plymouth on Saturday.
Marco Gabbiadini damning verdict on Sunderland promotion chances
Speaking ahead of the weekend, former Sunderland man and now BBC pundit Marco Gabbiadini gave his verdict on the season ahead.
Earlier in the week, Gabbiadini criticised Plymouth captain Joe Edwards for his constant riling up of Romaine Mundle last weekend.
Now, Gabbiadini has said that he thinks Mundle was lucky to avoid a red card for the incident between him and Edwards in the second half.
Gabbiadini also believes that the kind of inexperience shown by Mundle in that situation is what will keep the Black Cats out of the top two this season.
He said on Total Sport: “We aren’t fully there yet, in my opinion, as top two candidates, and it’s because of situations like that, which the better, stronger, more experienced teams will deal with better.”
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Regis Le Bris can’t do anything about Sunderland inexperience issue
Sunderland desperately lacked experience last season, and it was evident in some of their results and eventual league position.
Kristjaan Speakman added some during the summer, with the likes of Alan Browne among others.
And there’s also the fact that Sunderland players enter this season with that last season now under their belt, so experience is coming.
But it comes with time. Le Bris and Speakman can and will only add a certain amount of experience, with youth still the aim.
So with time, Sunderland will become more experience and better able to handle certain situations.
It could be that next season is the season where Sunderland really challenge.