{"id":1502093,"date":"2026-10-13T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&#038;p=1502093"},"modified":"2026-10-13T10:09:38","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T09:09:38","slug":"sunderland-struggling-regis-le-bris-premier-league","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/sunderland-struggling-regis-le-bris-premier-league\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Sunderland are struggling in the Premier League under Regis Le Bris"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>After a superb season back in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/competitions\/premier-league-2026-2027\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Premier League<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/clubs\/sunderland\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sunderland<\/a>\u2019s Stadium of Light sequel isn\u2019t quite going as planned.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Black Cats exceeded expectations and then some in their first campaign in eight years in the top-flight. Indeed, Regis Le Bris guided <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/clubs\/sunderland\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sunderland<\/a> to a seventh-place finish, enough to secure <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/clubs\/europa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europa<\/a> League football this time around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/add-squawka-to-your-google-news-feed\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/squawka-preferred-sources-google-banner.webp\" alt=\"Add Squawka to your preferred sources on Google\" class=\"wp-image-1500527\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/squawka-preferred-sources-google-banner.webp 1500w, https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/squawka-preferred-sources-google-banner-300x100.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/squawka-preferred-sources-google-banner-1024x341.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/squawka-preferred-sources-google-banner-768x256.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/squawka-preferred-sources-google-banner-400x133.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/squawka-preferred-sources-google-banner-600x200.webp 600w, https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/squawka-preferred-sources-google-banner-180x60.webp 180w, https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/squawka-preferred-sources-google-banner-150x50.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/squawka-preferred-sources-google-banner-222x74.webp 222w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019s top three &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/clubs\/manchester-city\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Manchester City<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/clubs\/arsenal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Arsenal<\/a> and Brighton &amp; Hove Albion, respectively \u2013 in that run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>In this article, we&#8217;ll cover:<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-sunderland-s-second-season-struggles\" data-level=\"3\">Sunderland&#8217;s second-season struggles<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-europa-league-stretching-a-beleaguered-squad\" data-level=\"3\">Europa League stretching a beleaguered squad<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-what-next-for-sunderland\" data-level=\"3\">What next for Sunderland?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In truth, the results would have been more favourable had key moments gone their way. Enzo Le Fee saw a penalty saved by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/david-raya\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">David Raya<\/a> shortly before Bruno Guimaraes put Arsenal ahead in the eventual 2-0 defeat last month. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/brian-brobbey\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Brian Brobbey<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Saturday\u2019s home defeat to Brighton, however, as a little more inexcusable. Granted, they fell behind to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/maxim-de-cuyper\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Maxim De Cuyper<\/a> strike shortly after the restart. However, they played against 10 men for the final half hour owing to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/pascal-struijk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pascal Struijk<\/a>\u2019s dismissal. Yet despite numerical advantage and a lion\u2019s share of possession, Sunderland failed to capitalise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-sunderland-s-second-season-struggles\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sunderland&#8217;s second-season struggles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It says plenty about Brighton\u2019s impressive start to the season under Fabian Hurzeler. However, Sunderland were made to pay for their profligacy. Brobbey\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A number of mitigating factors are contributing to Sunderland\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/10\/12125914\/team_-radar-comparison-1-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Comparison of Sunderland&apos;s 2026\/27 Premier League stats with their 2025\/26 stats\" class=\"wp-image-1502094\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/10\/12125914\/team_-radar-comparison-1-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/10\/12125914\/team_-radar-comparison-1-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/10\/12125914\/team_-radar-comparison-1-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/10\/12125914\/team_-radar-comparison-1-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/10\/12125914\/team_-radar-comparison-1-214x267.jpg 214w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/10\/12125914\/team_-radar-comparison-1-160x200.jpg 160w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/10\/12125914\/team_-radar-comparison-1-48x60.jpg 48w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/10\/12125914\/team_-radar-comparison-1-120x150.jpg 120w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/10\/12125914\/team_-radar-comparison-1-59x74.jpg 59w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/10\/12125914\/team_-radar-comparison-1.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Le Bris is a naturally pragmatic head coach. He sets his teams up to not lose. As teams wise up to their style, it\u2019s forcing the Frenchman into a natural change he\u2019s not overly accustomed to. They\u2019re seeing more of the ball, and it\u2019s proving a hindrance rather than a help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Combined with the absence of key players &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/habib-diarra\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Habib Diarra<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/dan-ballard\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dan Ballard<\/a>, along with Brobbey, are currently sidelined &#8211; doesn\u2019t help Le Bris\u2019 unfamiliar change to a more dominant style. Nor does it help that Sunderland\u2019s squad is already thinner than some may hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-europa-league-stretching-a-beleaguered-squad\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Europa League stretching a beleaguered squad<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Qualification for the Europa League was a huge moment for the club. However, it\u2019s come at a price. Le Bris doesn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/granit-xhaka\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Granit Xhaka<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Goalkeeper <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/robin-roefs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Robin Roefs<\/a>\u2019 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\u2019s only three goals this season came in the 5-3 defeat at Manchester City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Essentially &#8211; everything that could go wrong for the club has been going wrong. The Black Cats look to have used up all nine lives already.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-what-next-for-sunderland\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What next for Sunderland?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Europa League trip to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/clubs\/torreense\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Torreense<\/a> on Thursday could provide a welcome reprieve for Sunderland. The Liga <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/clubs\/portugal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Portugal<\/a> 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\u2019 position in the Stadium of Light dugout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ultimately the fixture list hasn\u2019t been kind on Sunderland in recent weeks, which hasn\u2019t aided their cause. And fixing the rot will prove easier said than done as the games come thick and fast. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/premier-league\/\"><strong>Premier League predictions &amp; tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/outright-markets\/premier-league-title-odds\/\"><strong>Premier League outright odds <\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/\"><strong>Latest football news<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Best betting sites<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/best-free-bet-offers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Best free bet offers<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/accumulator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Football accumulator tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After a superb season back in the Premier League, Sunderland\u2019s Stadium of Light sequel isn\u2019t 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&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3564,"featured_media":1502542,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"Sunderland","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Why are Sunderland struggling in the Premier League? Explore Regis Le Bris\u2019 tactical challenges, key injuries and fixture congestion.","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"features-category":[],"squawka-category":[27670,27671],"class_list":["post-1502093","features","type-features","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","squawka-category-premier-league","squawka-category-team-analysis"],"acf":{"external_featured_image_url":"","hide_featured_image_pattern":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.0 (Yoast SEO v28.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Why Sunderland are struggling in the Premier League under Regis Le Bris | Squawka | EN<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Why are Sunderland struggling in the Premier League? 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