On the latest episode of The Roar podcast, Sunderland writer James Copley reflects on the Black Cats' 3-0 defeat to Coventry City.
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00:00Sunderland's top six spot is definitely assured.
00:03If this turns into a little bit of a pattern and continues,
00:06you know, Sunderland losing games by more than a one goal margin
00:09or losing a number of games on the spin, then yes,
00:12you can start to get concerned.
00:13But it is worth noting, as we did earlier on the podcast,
00:16that it's been a really, really good season.
00:18I think the frustration comes from as well,
00:21is that perhaps this has been coming.
00:23We'd seen Sunderland look a bit jaded in a few games recently
00:26and one of the main criticisms, I think, of this Sunderland side
00:29is that although they don't lose many games by more than a one goal margin,
00:34they don't really win many games by more than a one goal margin either.
00:37It's only happened really a few times this season
00:40and that's no bad thing.
00:42But I thought, Jase, at one point this season,
00:45you know, around the Sheffield United game at home,
00:47maybe on New Year's Day,
00:49I thought that Sunderland team looked like it had the potential
00:52to maybe step up a few levels and start really putting teams to the sword,
00:57start really being clinical.
00:59I thought around that time that somebody was due a hiding
01:01and it didn't seem to happen.
01:03You're right to mention that this squad is very young
01:06because it is and I think sometimes Sunderland do lower the level to play teams.
01:12I'm thinking of like the Plymouth game,
01:14both Plymouth games, Hull City game at the stadium of like Preston,
01:17like all respect to those teams who've played well against Sunderland.
01:22You have to say that tactically they've set up well,
01:24but sometimes I feel like Sunderland sort of get dragged into a dogfight
01:28when they don't need to.
01:29They just need to let the quality shine through
01:31and that's the characteristics you're going to get with a young side.
01:36And fans of every club will say this as well,
01:38but, you know, Sunderland have had a few injury issues.
01:40As you mentioned, I do think the break's coming at a good time.
01:43Lebris will get a bit of time to work on them on the training pitch,
01:47but they're actually away at the moment.
01:48I don't think there's anybody playing staff-wise,
01:50maybe other than the injured players at the academy of like currently.
01:54I don't think they'll be back until next week,
01:56which I think is a good thing just mentally and physically to be able to reset.
02:00They've played a lot of football, haven't they?
02:03And there's been a fair few ups and downs this season.
02:05So I think, you know, Millwall at home is a tough test, isn't it really?
02:09You know, Alex Neil coming back to the stadium of like where he's not well-liked
02:14and he's won before, hasn't he?
02:17So won against Sunderland before by a large scoreline when he was Stoke City boss.
02:22So that'll be interesting. Millwall are always difficult to play against,
02:25but you'd like to see Sunderland come up with a reaction now.