BLACK CATS TO PURR
Guest columnist Sam Parkin predicts a brighter 2018 for Sunderland
IT TOOK 364 days and 21 attempts, but Sunderland have finally celebrated a home victory. In fact, by the time you’re reading this, they may even have achieved back-to-back successes at the Stadium of Light.
I racked my brain to think of a comparable run in my career. In 2012-13, my Exeter City team went more than five months and 13 fixtures without a win in front of our own supporters.
It was a nightmare period. With every home defeat, the patience of the fans decreased, pressure on the manager intensified and the morale in the dressing room was at all-time low.
That losing run and the red and white stripes are where the similarities between the Black Cats and the Grecians end, however.
Optimism
It’s been a torrid few years for the Sunderland supporters. Considering they were relegated last season with the sixth lowest points tally in Premier League history, this season’s struggles will not have surprised too many.
Yet what a difference a few weeks has made in the North East. Chris Coleman's appointment has quickly given real reason for optimism and the team’s continual decline has been well and truly halted.
Before yesterday's encounter with struggling Birmingham, they'd collected seven points from the last four games, only conceding in the home defeat to Reading last month.
It’s clear where Coleman has focussed his efforts. As with his Wales side, they’ve been very organised defensively.
Playing with three centrebacks has given them a solid foundation, and consecutive clean sheets against the freeflowing attacks of Wolves and Fulham are not to be sniffed at.
They are starting to see their injured players return to action. Midfielder Didier Ndong came off the bench against Fulham and teenage match-winner Josh Maja could have a big part to play, having missed four months with a knee injury.
Sunderland’s fate could very well be decided by what happens in January. The future of Lewis Grabban is still very much up in the air. Eleven goals in a struggling side has been a fantastic return from the on-loan Bournemouth striker and I’m sure they’ll be desperate to keep him until the end of this current campaign at least.
Upturn
A month ago, I’m not convinced it would have been a conversation that Grabban, or any player for that matter, would have necessarily welcomed.
This recent upturn in form, aligned to having Coleman at the helm, will do a lot for the club’s powers of negotiation next month.
It’s only a start but it looks like the gloom is finally lifting. I’m anticipating a brighter 2018 for those on Wearside.