Words fail almost as much as this bunch

SAME old, same old.

Sunderland’s capitulation against Preston followed the familiar formula: compete for a while, concede a cheap goal, implode.

A nip-and-tuck first half meant there was nothing between the sides at half-time, only for nonexistent marking at a set-piece to present Sean Maguire with a gift just after the restart.

Sunderland went to pieces, Jake Clarke-Salter was sent off for a brainless second bookable offence on the hour and before you know it the defence went walkabout again as Callum Robinson killed the game – and any realistic chance the Black Cats had of survival.

Clarke-Salter’s red card came on his return from a three-game ban for getting sent off against Middlesbrough. He will now sit out another two games.

Chris Coleman walked into his press conference like a man heading for the gallows and admitted he did not know what he could say that he has not said so many times before.

He was referring to his players making the same mistakes week after week, with the same outcomes. In reality, though, it goes wider than that.

It is the same lack of quality, lack of ability, lack of courage, lack of spirit, lack of fight and lack of belief which has been there all season.

This team is sinking, holed below the waterline. It is not capable of escaping relegation.

I can see it, the fans can see it, the players can see it, and – while Coleman must continue to put a brave face on it in public – in his heart of hearts, the manager knows it too. This was their chance to put pressure on their relegation rivals.

Fourth-bottom Barnsley had lost earlier and a win would have cut the gap between the Wearsiders and safety to two points.

Instead, it remains five points, and effectively six due to Sunderland’s inferior goal difference.

To add some context, Sunderland have not won in 10 games and have picked up only three points during that run.

That is why League One is looming large and so poor is this team I do not believe it would be capable of challenging for promotion from that division.

This group of players lacks the gumption required to win a match, let alone a league.

They do not score enough goals and they could not keep a clean sheet if their lives depended on it – they have the worst defensive record in the Championship and their record of five shut-outs from 38 games is an embarrassment.

Both Simon Grayson and Coleman have been driven to distraction by the inability of their defenders to do the basics.

Thankfully, this group’s catalogue of failings will not be an issue next season.

This sorry squad will break up this summer when the loan flops slink back to their parent clubs, the out-of-contract players take their chance on finding new employment (good luck based on your efforts this season) and the few who might attract interest from elsewhere will be sold.

The club will have to rebuild almost from scratch, hopefully under the auspices of a new owner who is willing to put in the investment so desperately needed.

Only the youngsters – the likes of Joel Asoro, Josh Maja, George Honeyman, Ethan Robson, and Max Stryjek – will remain, along with those who will be shocked to find there is no queue of clubs willing to match their current pay packet.

Of course, I could be proved completely wrong.

The final eight games could see this team turn over a new leaf, the players step up to the plate, cast off the shackles, and storm to safety.

If that happens, believe me, I will happily apologise to each and every one of them - but as things stand I think I am on pretty safe ground.