Sunderland face a potentially season defining run of games.
Sunderland star Duncan Watmore has said the side need to use the momentum generated from recent performances and results to capitalise on a winnable run of games for the Black Cats, the Sunderland Echo reports.
It’s a huge period for the Premier League’s bottom side which sees them face Leicester City, Swansea City, Watford and Burnley before the New Year – as well as difficult tests against Chelsea and Manchester United.
Liverpool’s Dejan Lovren in action with Sunderland’s Duncan Watmore
Despite being bottom of the league, there have been green shoots of growth and promise from David Moyes’s side – who recorded back-to-back wins against Bournemouth and Hull City – and by no means disgraced themselves in their defeat to Liverpool last weekend.
Watmore is quoted in the Sunderland Echo, saying: “We are working hard on the training pitch to make sure we take that momentum from the last few matches, use that in the right way going into challenging these games.
“Ultimately, we are going for wins and that’s how it should be. We need to climb the table and everyone at the club is fully focused on that.”
The next two games in particular carry significant importance. They may be facing the champions this weekend but Leicester have had their struggles in the Premier League this season following their fairytale title triumph.
Sunderland manager David Moyes
The Black Cats are in striking distance of getting themselves out of the relegation zone, but one feels it’s necessary for them to pick up four points from their next two games. Getting a win on the board, and at least avoiding defeat against a relegation rival – with others around them likely to drop points – can keep a sense of momentum around the club going.
If they were to win both of their next two games, there would be a sense of the pressure being off a little – much like at Anfield – when they come up against Chelsea in just under two weeks’ time.
A points target of close to double figures between now and the turn of the year should be obtainable for Sunderland, if they exceed it then there would be major cause for optimism going into the New Year.
Sunderland manager David Moyes
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