Sunderland suffered their first home league defeat of the season on Saturday, being beaten 1-0 by strugglers Hull City.
Sunderland came out of their previous game against Leeds United with huge credit. Although they threw away the lead and eventually left Elland Road with nothing, they proved that day that they are capable of competing with the league’s best.
Then came the visit of Hull City to the Stadium of Light. Sunderland started the day in 4th and Hull in 21st place of the Championship table, but it was the Tigers who left with all three points after an Anthony Patterson error in the first half gifted them the win.
Regis Le Bris’ side tried and failed to find a way back into the game in the second half. In the end though, Hull held on without having too many scares, on what was a really miserable afternoon for the Black Cats.
Although Sunderland remain in a strong league position, there’s plenty of brewing concern among fans that, even if Sunderland secure a top six finish this season, the chances of actually earning promotion are becoming ever slim.
Sunderland fans booing after full-time vs Hull City
The Sunderland fans can be very vocal and throughout the game against Hull, there was plenty of criticism on social media aimed at Patterson and Luke O’Nien in particular, even for Jobe Bellingham who had an overall poor game in the midfield.
There was also questions for the referee who waved away two handball calls inside the Hull City box; one in either half, though the second half claim seemed very controversial, with the ball clearly striking the raised hand of Hull captain Lewie Coyle.
Despite that, Sunderland fans were left fuming with the overall performance. Then at the time of the final whistle, boos rang out across the Stadium of Light, which was filled by an impressive 44,009 fans on the day.
Despite what’s been a positive season on the whole, back-to-back defeats and boos from the home crowd should worry Le Bris, whose mistakes in selection and substitutions are becoming very costly.
- READ MORE: Sunderland player ratings vs Hull City as Jobe scores lowly 5/10 but one teammate was even worse
Sunderland’s home record in the 2024/25 Championship season
After Sunderland’s defeat against Hull City, Burnley are now the only team in the Championship with an unbeaten record at home this season.
The Black Cats remain in 4th place of the table with an 11-point lead over Blackburn Rovers in 5th (Blackburn play Swansea City at 3pm on Saturday). In the home form table though, Sunderland sit in 3rd having taken 36 points from a possible 51 this season.
Le Bris’ side have won 10, drawn six and now lost once at the Stadium of Light in the Championship this season. Leeds boast the best home record in the division with 44 points from 51.
Up next for the Black Cats is a trip to Sheffield Wednesday on Friday.