Leeds United travel to Sunderland this weekend looking to get back to winning ways against the side sitting bottom of the Premier League.
10 points from our first seven games is a sign that Leeds are improving based on last season. We’re three points better off and looking much more defensively secure in the process.
Up next, our promotion peers Sunderland await at the Stadium of Light. Their second season isn’t going to plan, though. Europa League commitments and fitness issues contribute to them sitting in 20th place.
“It feels massive…” – Sunderland pressure starting to manifest for Regis Le Bris as Leeds United clash nears
The Black Cats find themselves bottom of the Premier League after seven games, having lost last time out against Bournemouth. In which, Sunderland were reduced to 10 men as Kevin Danso hauled down Evanilson. That sees him now suspended for our meeting at the Stadium of Light.
It’s still very early days in the league, but Sunderland have a trip to Lech Poznan in the Europa League to worry about. In turn, there are already discussions online about whether Le Bris is the man to keep taking Sunderland forward long-term.
The Sunderland Echo’s James Copley offered a balanced assessment of Sunderland and the Frenchman’s position.
“Sunderland look like they have been worked out to a degree; their attacking play needs a rethink, and some selection decisions deserve scrutiny. Le Bris needs to find answers, but his record gives me reason to believe he can,” Copley writes.
He believes Le Bris deserves plenty of time to turn things around. Although, that must be followed by a response against Leeds.
“When I weigh up the quality of Le Bris’s work over his time at Sunderland, I still see a coach worth backing through a difficult period. He deserves time and patience, even if those are two virtues rarely found in abundance in Premier League boardrooms,” Copley continued.
“Premier League riches ensure clubs will always become twitchy at some stage. The consequences of relegation are significant, and Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has repeatedly shown that he will act ruthlessly when he believes it is necessary. Nobody should assume Le Bris is immune from that.”
Leeds United need to inflict further misery on Sunderland with Sunday win
Our start to this season has been very encouraging. It strongly indicates we won’t be near the bottom of the table come May.
However, to build on what we’ve done so far, we need to go to Sunderland and Bournemouth and take four points.
Sunderland look a sorry state right now, and aren’t helped by a long Thursday trip to Poland. We should be looking to go for the jugular on Sunday.
This assessment of the Black Cats says a lot about their struggles and perhaps the dwindling faith in Le Bris too. He’s got a big task ahead of him to shake things up, and Daniel Farke has to take advantage by giving him even more pressure.
