‘Until the end’… What Regis Le Bris has demanded from Sunderland fans ahead of difficult West Brom clash

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Sunderland are set to face West Brom on Saturday as boss Regis Le Bris sends a rallying cry to the Black Cats supporters.

Sunderland face West Brom this afternoon as the Championship season approaches the business end.

Regis Le Bris’ side sits firmly cemented in fourth place, with the Championship play-offs seemingly inevitable given the gulf in points they suffer from title-hopefuls Sheffield United, Leeds and Burnley.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	Sheff UtdSheffield Utd	39	26	7	6	56	29	27	83
2	LeedsLeeds	39	23	12	4	78	27	51	81
3	BurnleyBurnley	39	22	15	2	53	11	42	81
4	SunderlandSunderland	39	20	12	7	56	37	19	72
5	CoventryCoventry	39	17	8	14	56	51	5	59
6	West BromWest Brom	39	13	18	8	48	35	13	57

Former Black Cats fan favourite Tony Mowbray will be in the opposite dugout on Saturday with Mowbray well aware of the quality of his old side.

With thousands from Wearside set to descend on The Hawthorns, head coach Le Bris has sent the Sunderland faithful a rallying cry for the upcoming set of crunch Championship fixtures.

• READ MORE: Regis Le Bris hopeful over huge Sunderland squad boost for West Brom clash

Regis Le Bris believes Sunderland need fans ‘until the end’

Sunderland’s away support will be typically fierce against the Baggies this weekend as the Black Cats’ season reaches the climax.

Despite Sunderland sitting in limbo in the play-off picture, Le Bris has issued a rallying cry to the supporter base ahead of this weekend’s clash.

He told SAFC.com: “The fans are important. We have a strong fanbase and this is a strength of the Club so we have to be connected. Every detail will be important until the end.”

Sunderland supporters left for the international break on a sour note after they were frustrated by displays in the 1-1 Preston stalemate and the following 3-0 horror show at Coventry.

As Jobe Bellingham admitted, Sunderland weren’t at their fluid best against Millwall last time out, with the opportunity to build up steam ahead of the pivotal Championship run-in on offer.

Chris Mepham has recently admitted how crucial momentum will be ahead of the inevitable play-offs, in which Le Bris’ side could face the Baggies in a season-defining clash.

• READ MORE: Sunderland’s three best and three best worst possible play-off opponents

Regis Le Bris admits side must be at ‘best’ vs West Brom

In the reverse fixture back in November, Sunderland came into that clash fourth as they sit today, but West Brom were just shy of the play-off places before the 0-0 draw.

Ex-Black Cats striker Josh Maja, who will miss the reunion with his former side, missed an opening in the first-half which was met with sarcastic jeers from the Sunderland crowd.

Wilson Isidor had a goal chalked out for offside before Patrick Roberts’ deft effort went inches wide of the post as the Baggies defended valiantly to snatch a point at the Stadium of Light.

Le Bris admitted his side “dominated” that affair, and will be hoping for more of the same on Saturday.

Le Bris added: “We dominated the reverse fixture without scoring but this game will be different. It could be a fixture in the play-offs so it’s important to play this game with our best football.”

If Sunderland are to send a strong statement of intent to the rest of the Championship play-off contenders, akin to West Brom, then Le Bris’ side must build on the Millwall win with a resounding victory against their former boss and return to their dynamic best.