Simon Grayson badly needs a Championship win at Sunderland and they could find Hull to be accommodating hosts on Saturday.
Sunderland fans must be wondering when this losing run is going to end but, in the Championship, there is always another game around the corner.
The next opportunity for Simon Grayson’s men to pick up three points comes at Hull City on Saturday, with the Black Cats lying perilously in 20th place.
But Sunderland do have reasons to be optimistic ahead of their trip to Humberside this weekend…
1. On the road again
Sunderland’s home record in 2017 is thoroughly miserable, with both David Moyes and Grayson failing to inspire a victory at the Stadium of Light.
Attendances are dwindling and the atmosphere is bordering on toxic, with two home defeats in the last week hardly helping matters.
The players will be glad to get away from Wearside, but they have also shown encouraging signs on their travels, notably beating Norwich City 3-1 last month.
They will hope for another victory here to ease the pressure.
2. Wearsiders’ wing wizardry
Aiden McGeady was central to Sunderland’s promising start to the campaign, but he has been out injured for their last two fixtures, coinciding with a pair of home defeats.
In that time, new signing Callum McManaman has debuted and come to the fore, providing the Black Cats’ greatest threat.
Now, if McGeady is fit to return, Grayson should relish the opportunity to select both players and have exciting, attacking momentum on either flank.
With top-scorer Lewis Grabban injured against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, Sunderland need their wide men to deliver.
3. Hull humbled and hurting
Sunderland fans have it bad right now, but it has hardly been great fun to be a Hull supporter in recent weeks.
It is difficult to know which Tigers side is going to turn up right now, with the latter of two thumping home wins – against Bolton Wanderers on August 25 – followed by an embarrassing 5-0 reverse at Derby County.
Hull then lost again, at Fulham, to leave them in 16th place, hardly better off than a Sunderland side they looked considerably better than in last season’s Premier League plight.
If Sunderland can catch Hull on a bad day, they are there for the taking.
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