Max: Let’s turn up Power and put heat on Hull
SUNDERLAND are determined to play their part in delaying Hull City’s promotion party as they head to the KCOM Stadium tonight, according to Max Power.
Just ten days ago, the Black Cats looked on course to hunt down top two Hull and Peterborough and muscle their way into the automatic promotion picture.
However, successive defeats against Charlton, Wigan and Blackpool - while the Tigers and the Posh have both won back-to-back games - have left Sunderland’s automatic promotion hopes in tatters.
While the Wearsiders must now readjust their sights and concentrate on the play-offs, Hull will clinch promotion if they beat the Black Cats tonight and both Lincoln and Blackpool also slip up.
Captain Power said: “I am sure Hull will be looking at it and thinking they are nearly there and over the line.
“I don’t want us to give them that boost.
“We need to make it as hard as possible for them and the way we can do that is by going there and trying to get a result.”
Delaying Hull’s promotion is not Sunderland’s primary objective, however.
Their three-game losing streak is their worst run in the league since they were relegated to the third tier three years ago and they must not allow that run to extend to a fourth game.
Power added: “I am not going to mask it, it is disappointing where we have found ourselves in three games.
“However, that shows how quickly football can turn.
“Credit to Peterborough and Hull, they have picked up results when we have not.
“Unfortunately for us we have come up short in the last three games and it is important we now try and get that winning formula back as soon as possible.”
Lee Johnson’s side must now work to get the points it needs to secure a top-six finish and play itself into form going into the play-offs.
Power said: “I think what is important for us now is to put other scenarios out of our head and focus on getting that winning formula back.
“If we end up in the play-off route we need to head into that in a good frame of mind.
“We have won at Wembley once this season in the EFL Trophy final and if it takes that this season I am confident in the lads we have in the dressing room that we can end the season in a good frame of mind.”
Meanwhile, boss Lee Johnson is looking for his players to be bold when they head to Hull.
The Black Cats boss was not too critical of his side’s performance in the 1-0 defeat at Blackpool on Saturday, despite the setback meaning their chances of securing a top-two spot are now remote.
He said: “I thought we did OK at Blackpool.
“We asked for boldness and creativity, which I thought we tried to do, although we did not always have the final ball or the end delivery.
“It looks like it is going to be extremely difficult to get into that top two now, which is disappointing after putting so much effort into getting there.
“We have to secure that second chance and keep going and building performances because you never know, top two might still happen.”