‘I don't blame Johnson for 3 defeats. The book rests with the players’

Sunderland supporters have taken to social media after the defeat at Blackpool on Saturday – with many urging new owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus to back a ‘major rebuild’ this summer.

The Black Cats were beaten 1-0 at Bloomfield Road in what was their third straight league defeat, leaving the club’s automatic promotion hopes all but over.

The club now stand eight points behind Peterborough United and 11 behind Huill City.

And while some are optimistic that Sunderland could yet achieve promotion through the play-offs, others are already looking towards next season – and a busy summer in the transfer market.

Indeed, those supporters believe that considerable change in the squad could be needed if the Wearsiders are to return to the Championship.

Here’s what fans were saying on Twitter...

@Since1879 said: “Snatching the play offs from the jaws of promotion and that never ends well. It's the #SAFC way”

@lukerids added: “Classic Sunderland eh. Build us up just to bring us crashing back down (again). Not angry, just disappointed (canny angry)”

@pinehurst5 tweeted: “You know what, yeah we lost (again) and we are all deflated. But the play offs are a lottery and we have a chance, so I for one am not bemoaning this as the end of the world, infact it’s potentially three more games I get to watch my beloved club”

@jacksafc0 commented: “oh well we put these last few games behind us and focus on our last few, forget the teams around us, we just focus on what we need to do, and that’s go into these last few games with confidence. although it already seems over, anything can happen in football. KTF.”

@Liam9517 posted: “3 defeats in a row it’s not good enough, this squad isn’t good enough only hope we have is that we at least take some momentum going into the play offs but it’s not looking good for us we definitely need a squad rebuild next season as these players aren’t good enough”

@eab1992 added: “I don't blame Johnson for 3 defeats in a row. The book rests with all the players. Lack of quality and defensive calamities have cost us. Mentality problem within this squad. Major rebuild required”