JACK’S CATS ARE READY TO GO AGAIN
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JACK ROSS totted up Sunderland’s games this week on his office planner and added up the training sessions.
He revealed: “It’s 55 so far, with 58 guaranteed, and possibly 61. That’s a lot of team talks!”
Add in 150-plus training sessions, in a season that could stretch to the end of May if they end up in the playoffs, and he admits it will have been a “roller-coaster” 12 months.
Owner Stewart Donald (below) and his new regime were handed the keys to the Stadium of Light a year ago with a mission to transform the club’s fortunes. And the Black Cats’ immediate future has never been more at a crossroads than today against Portsmouth.
The loser will have their top-two prospects severely damaged and if it means the playoffs, potentially a second trip to Wembley after the two clubs’ Checkatrade
Trophy showdown.
Ross said: “We have crammed lots of emotions in to this season. We could still have the biggest highs ahead of us.
“To win a league, any league, 46 league games, you need lots of digging deep. We have shown those qualities. But they have to do it again.
“I have faith, trust and confidence in them. It should bring about the best in them. We could end up with 90-plus points and in the play-offs!
“All the top three have had club record-breaking sequences.”
Two draws and a defeat in the last four games, and losing the Checkatrade final, have left a feeling of deflation and a chance missed.
Boss Ross added: “We have had emotionally an up and down month.
“There is nothing wrong feeling disappointed at the time, but you come to work and refocus.
“It was sore, and we remember the feeling to spur us on. We happen to play them again.
“We want to end the season with a feeling of success, not one like after the cup final.”
Ross wants new problems next season, like finding a budget, and a team, to compete in the Championship – if they get there.