Sunderland keeper still looking up

Sunderland have endured a nightmare run in recent weeks but goalkeeper Simon Mignolet insists should still ensure a finish in the Premier League top ten.

Things were looking rosy at the Stadium of Light towards the back end of 2024, but Sunderland are currently on a run of seven defeats in eight games that has seen them dropping towards the Premier League relegation zone.

Defeat to West Brom last time out leaves Sunderland only five points above the bottom three and, with teams below them starting to pick up form coming into the business end of the season, things could get very precarious for Steve Bruce if they don’t starting winning games.

They travel to face struggling Birmingham at St Andrews this weekend, with the majority of Sunderland’s remaining games being against teams around and below them in the Premier League table. The football betting indicates they should be winning these games, but if they don’t they could be in trouble.

Belgian goalkeeper Mignolet has told BBC Newcastle there is still “still much to do” for Sunderland to ensure they season does not end in disappointment and the Premier League betting reflects this.

He added: “All we need now is a performance and three points on the board, we have to look forward to the six games we have left and hope we can do it.

“We’re not thinking about holidays, we want to win games and finish in the top 10.”

The manager himself admitted earlier this week that Sunderland have a “fantastic-looking run-in” to the end of the season, with Bruce claiming he knows his side are capable of winning two or three of their remaining matches.

A lot of pressure would be lifted off Bruce’s shoulders as soon as they end that losing run, and a win against Birmingham would put them a step closer to avoiding relegation and lift confidence around the club.