New Headline: "United Dominates Black Cats; Fans Rally for Victory in Exciting Clash!

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Granit Xhaka of Sunderland applauds the fans during the warm up while wearing a shirt in support of the "Foundation of Light" prior to the Premier League match between Sunderland and Brighton & Hove Albion at Stadium of Light on March 14, 2026 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) | Getty Images As football fans, we’re conditioned to react to results. Whether we win, lose, or draw, the outcome of the most recent match generally dictates our mood, our perception of the performance, and our perception of the general state of the club.

And after Saturday’s defeat – our third successive at the Stadium of Light, not that anyone really needs reminding – and our FA Cup exit to Port Vale, questions are being asked of the playing squad and Régis Le Bris too. Some of those questions are fair enough – particularly after the FA Cup performance – but it’s important that collectively we don’t spend much time looking back and picking over the bones of just one Premier League win in the last six, and that poor FA Cup exit. The reality of Saturday’s game against Brighton was – as it has been with many games this season – it could really have gone either way.

A yard here and there, and we’re one up, the referee deciding to make Brighton retake a corner due to a clear push, or deciding a cynical foul was worthy of a second yellow… those moments matter, and they didn’t go our way on Saturday. That’s not to say we couldn’t have been better; we absolutely could have, and I was thankful we weren’t a goal or two down in the first half, before we came back into it and really should have taken the lead; however, we must have some perspective here. Wide areas have been an area of huge promise and also a huge weakness for us at different times this season, and we were without Reinildo, Mukiele, Traoré, Le Fée, Mundle, Ta Bi and Angulo this weekend – four of those seven would likely start in wide positions if everyone was fit.

Add to that the injury to Roefs, Ballard having to go off, the obvious fitness issues Xhaka’s dealing with and Brobbey just getting back to fitness and there’s a bit of leeway that’s warranted. In fact, as a collective, we need to give this squad a bit of leeway in general – they’ve had an excellent season overall, and this period now, when we’re all but safe (I’m not saying it definitively until it’s mathematically impossible by the way), needs to be something of a runway into next season. And that goes just as much for us as supporters – whether you’re in the ground or watching from afar, talking in the pub or having the crack online.