After a superb season back in the Premier League, Sunderland’s Stadium of Light sequel isn’t quite going as planned.
The Black Cats exceeded expectations and then some in their first campaign in eight years in the top-flight. Indeed, Regis Le Bris guided Sunderland to a seventh-place finish, enough to secure Europa League football this time around.
Le Bris, though, has struggled to strike up the same tune with his players in the 2026/27 season. Six games in, and they sit 16th. They fell to a third successive league defeat at the weekend. Conversely, they have faced the Premier League’s top three – Manchester City, Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion, respectively – in that run.
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In truth, the results would have been more favourable had key moments gone their way. Enzo Le Fee saw a penalty saved by David Raya shortly before Bruno Guimaraes put Arsenal ahead in the eventual 2-0 defeat last month. Brian Brobbey bagged a hat-trick in a 5-3 loss at Manchester City. The Dutchman became the first player since Roque Santa Cruz in 2007 to bag a hat-trick for a losing side.
Saturday’s home defeat to Brighton, however, as a little more inexcusable. Granted, they fell behind to a Maxim De Cuyper strike shortly after the restart. However, they played against 10 men for the final half hour owing to Pascal Struijk’s dismissal. Yet despite numerical advantage and a lion’s share of possession, Sunderland failed to capitalise.
Sunderland’s second-season struggles
It says plenty about Brighton’s impressive start to the season under Fabian Hurzeler. However, Sunderland were made to pay for their profligacy. Brobbey’s absence hardly helped the side as they managed just three shots on target against Brighton. Two of those were from outside of the box. With no real focal point to the attack, Sunderland never really looked like threatening the south coast side, even when they were reduced to 10 men.
A number of mitigating factors are contributing to Sunderland’s sub-par start to the season. Opponents have cottoned on to the style of play, forcing the Black Cats to see more of the ball, which is not in keeping to the way they set up in their first campaign back in the Premier League. Their possession average has risen from 44.8% to 50.8%, a fairly sizeable increase.
As such, they are posing less of a threat on the counter. A return of 0.5 shots following a counter attack per game has dropped slightly from 0.63. They may have only scored three counter-attacking goals last term, but they are yet to score one from their opening six matches.
Le Bris is a naturally pragmatic head coach. He sets his teams up to not lose. As teams wise up to their style, it’s forcing the Frenchman into a natural change he’s not overly accustomed to. They’re seeing more of the ball, and it’s proving a hindrance rather than a help.
Combined with the absence of key players – Habib Diarra and Dan Ballard, along with Brobbey, are currently sidelined – doesn’t help Le Bris’ unfamiliar change to a more dominant style. Nor does it help that Sunderland’s squad is already thinner than some may hope.
Europa League stretching a beleaguered squad
Qualification for the Europa League was a huge moment for the club. However, it’s come at a price. Le Bris doesn’t have the same manoeuvrability to change up his starting XI when Sunderland were playing one game a week. Now, a beleaguered squad is already stretched beyond its means, which has impacted their start to the season.
This throws up an additional issue for Le Bris, who is unable to tinker too much with his selections. It means that out-of-form stars are continuing to be selected owing to a lack of options. Captain Granit Xhaka looks to have been visibly affected by off-field issues of late. The Swiss is struggling to dominate midfields in the same way he did in his debut campaign on Wearside.
Goalkeeper Robin Roefs’ distribution has been criticised by supporters. Enzo Le Fee is failing to exert the same control on games, with Sunderland more predictable in transition in recent weeks. Brobbey’s only three goals this season came in the 5-3 defeat at Manchester City.
Essentially – everything that could go wrong for the club has been going wrong. The Black Cats look to have used up all nine lives already.
What next for Sunderland?
The Europa League trip to Torreense on Thursday could provide a welcome reprieve for Sunderland. The Liga Portugal 2 side claimed a 2-1 win at Lillestroem on matchday one, so are not to be underestimated. Victory in Portugal would certainly strengthen Le Bris’ position in the Stadium of Light dugout.
Ultimately the fixture list hasn’t been kind on Sunderland in recent weeks, which hasn’t aided their cause. And fixing the rot will prove easier said than done as the games come thick and fast. It’s unfamiliar territory for both manager and club, and a period that will be tough to navigate. While not necessarily make or break for the campaign, should Le Bris fail to get the club back on track, then questions will start to be asked.