SUNDERLAND’S promotion hopes are hanging by a thread as they visit second placed Wigan Athletic this afternoon.
No wins in six and one win in ten has seen the Black Cats fall way behind in the race for automatic promotion and keep their place in the League One play-off by the skin of their teeth.
Alex Neil is still looking for his first victory as Black Cats boss after two draws and one loss from his opening three games in charge.
The 40-year-old Scotsman has spent the best part of a year out of the game before his appointment earlier this month but didn’t want to lose touch with the game by attending football matches. He spent some of that time watching the Latics.
Neil said: “I was at the game against Crewe not long ago. I’ve been to see them two or three times this year, just when I was going out and watching games.
“I think they are experience, got good know-how and guys that know and understand how to get out of the division.
“They’ve got a mixture in terms of understanding when to turn the ball and then trying to play from deep. They’ve recruited a squad that’s going to try and get them out of the division. Added to that in the window with the likes of (Josh) Magennis coming in.
“They certainly haven’t got as many young players as we’ve got.
“You look at the average age of their squad, it’s significantly different from ours. If you look at every club across the board, I think you’re different in some way shape or form.”
While Sunderland look miles away from where Wigan are, the Latics have lost twice to the Black Cats this season. However, Neil says that counts for nothing.
“You’ve got to take that in context” added Neil.
“A few people have said that to me but I’ve looked at the team that played that day. A lot of the players are no longer here so that’s got no relevance to what is going to happen in the next game.
“Equally, the other win was in the Carabao Cup and we changed nearly the full side so, again, that has no relevance. I think what you’re trying to do there is apply a little bit of pressure on the fact that we beat them twice already. It’s not in a similar circumstance.
“You can’t really take the comparisons and make them equal. I don’t think that’s a fair reflection.
“What we’ve got to do is approach this game and try and win it as best we can.”
Victory for Sunderland this afternoon can lift them above Plymouth Argyle and up to fifth in the table.
