The Championship season is always a long, hard slog, and Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris is in no mood to get carried away ahead of Saturday’s clash with Oxford United.
No team has more points, more goals, or more wins than Sunderland so far in 2024/25.
But the Black Cats found out the hard way last year – albeit after making a good start rather than a great one – just how quickly things can unravel.
Sunderland were flying after six wins in eight Championship games going into October 2023. A few months later, a potential play-off challenge had given way to relegation concerns, as Tony Mowbray was replaced in the dugout by Mick Beale.
Now, after Sunderland beat Luton Town 2-1 at Kenilworth Road in midweek to extend their lead at the top to three points, suggestions that the Wearsiders are set to endure another dramatic fall from grace currently look a little fanciful, at the risk of jinxing all of Regis Le Bris’ good work.
But the former FC Lorient coach knows that Sunderland cannot let complacency seep in.
The season is only a quarter of the way done, after all. And if Le Bris is to become the first Sunderland manager since Roy Keane to lead the Black Cats to the promised land of the Premier League, they may need to accumulate around 65 more points between now and May.
Regis Le Bris sets points target for Championship leaders Sunderland
“The promotion [tally], I think, should be around 90 points,” Le Bris muses, speaking at a press conference ahead of that Oxford meeting. “[Maybe] 82, 88, I don’t know.
“We are on 25 at the minute! So the gap [between what we have and what we need] is huge.”
Chris Rigg’s third of the campaign and a Romaine Mundle stunner was enough to see Sunderland past Luton last time out.
The Black Cats were far from their best against Rob Edwards’ outfit. But, in the absence of their usual flowing style, their team spirit and their willingness to scrap for every available point coming to the fore as Luton hammered on a deadbolted door.
“They want to win together, because its not only the tactical side. It is the power of the team and the way that everyone is fighting, the togetherness,” adds Le Bris.
“As I say always, it’s only 11 games. Now, its a new experience. [There are] 35 to come. So, the main idea is to build on this positive experiences. We won eight out of 11 so there are many positive experiences.
“We know the difference between the win and a defeat is so small. At the minute, we are not so dominant. We are always in the balance.
“[Things are] mainly positive, but we need to improve our game.”
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus delighted by Le Bris’ Black Cats impact
Sunderland owner Kryil Louis-Dreyfus has been glowing in his praise for Le Bris.
The Frenchman’s excellent communication skills and his ability to get the most out of the talent at his disposal justifying an appointment which divided opinion over the summer.
Speaking to RMC Sport, Louis-Dreyfus is reluctant to slap a target on Sunderland’s head, however. He is long enough in the tooth already to know how dramatically things can change in Europe’s most topsy turvy league.
“It’s really too early to say where the team will be at the end of the season,” Louis-Dreyfus says.
“In the Championship seasons I’ve been involved in, I’ve seen a team that was last in November get promoted. And I’ve seen teams that were first or second in February finish in 17th place!
“It’s a Championship that’s so long that it’s hard to say.”