Sunderland defender Chris Mepham is going into the clash against Sheffield United with high hopes.
The Black Cats will be hoping to bounce back from their recent defeat against Stoke City as they look to face 2nd placed Championship side Sheffield United.
It will need to be a much improved outing for Sunderland against the Blades, certainly in front of goal, as the Black Cats were without a shadow of a doubt wasteful away at the Potters, where they were unable to score from a hatful of chances.
Eliezer Mayenda notably missed a golden opportunity in the second half from an Adil Aouchiche cross that was sent well wide from Viktor Johansson’s goal.
Despite the performance and result, Sunderland will have to put the game behind them as they gear up for Sheffield United, a clash that Black Cats defender Chris Mepham is ‘confident’ in for one clear reason.
Sunderland defender Chris Mepham ‘confident’ in Sheffield United meeting following previous clash
Sunderland will be going into the game against Sheffield United with hopes that they can avenge a tight 1-0 defeat last time out at Bramall Lane, where a tasty game saw two red cards dished out and a late winner for the Blades courtesy of midfielder Tom Davies.
Mepham was the receiver of Sunderland’s red card in the first half at Bramall Lane, and despite the recent performance against Stoke City, the Welshman still fully believes in his sides’ ability to get back to winning ways at home to Sheffield United.
Via SAFC on X, Mepham said: “[It’s a] big game coming up now against Sheffield United, that’s where our focus needs to be, we need to put in a positive performance and hopefully get a good result.
“Sheffield United are right up there, for a reason. But we went there and I felt we were the better team. It’s a tough place to go, but with the home support hopefully we can give a good account and get the three points. I’m confident we can do that.”
Squad mentality will be in for its biggest test yet against Sheffield United
In comparison to the lacklustre 2023/24 Championship campaign, that was led in the wrong hands of Michael Beale and Mike Dodds, where they finished 16th place, Sunderland’s mentality has been much healthier since Regis Le Bris came into his role.
The Sunderland boss has done well to improve such a major issue at an exponential rate, and it has been seen by the way they bounced back in recent weeks from early deficits and going into the interval of games down by a goal.
However, facing up against Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United will certainly be a massive test for Sunderland, especially coming off of the back of the defeat to Stoke City.
It will take plenty of managing by Le Bris to iron out the creases from the Stoke City defeat and in turn look to right the wrongs against a side with just one defeat in their last 13 outings.