Sunderland host high-flying Manchester United on Saturday afternoon in their penultimate home clash of the Premier League season.
If Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland side are to keep fading hopes of finishing in European contention, then they must take points from third-placed Manchester United this weekend.
The Black Cats have defied expectations in their return to Premier League football this season, and mathematically confirmed their safety from instant demotion last weekend with a 1-1 draw at already-relegated Wolves.
Highlighting how close the mid-table pack is in the top flight, Sunderland remain just four points behind seventh-placed Brentford heading into the final three clashes of the season, with the visit of Michael Carrick’s side approaching.
On Saturday, Sunderland will need to take points from the Red Devils, who recently cemented their qualification for next term’s Champions League campaign.
Ahead of the game, Le Bris has called on the Stadium of Light faithful to bring the noise.
Le Bris wants Sunderland fans in full voice for Man Utd visit
Sunderland and visiting Manchester United are in differing veins of form heading into the weekend’s clash, with Le Bris’ side winless in their last three Premier League outings following their lacklustre performance at Molineux last time out.
On the other hand, Carrick's side will travel to Wearside buoyed by three consecutive victories, most recently with a thrilling 3-2 home win over bitter rivals and reigning champions, Liverpool.
Spurred on by their supporters over the course of the campaign, Sunderland have enjoyed some impressive results on home soil, namely their 1-0 win over Newcastle United in the Wear-Tyne derby, and the last-minute draw against leaders Arsenal back in November.
Now, ahead of the Red Devils’ visit, Le Bris issued a rallying cry for the Sunderland faithful in his pre-match press conference, telling them that their support can make the players ‘give even more’.
As quoted by Sunderland’s media, Le Bris said: “The first part is to be disciplined and well-connected as a team,”
“An industrious approach. The other side is going to be key, to be bold and creative. We don’t want to allow them to be in their comfort zone.
“We have to be aligned and that starts from us. The way we play. But if we suffer, then we need the support from the fans.
“If you feel the energy for the players, they can give even more. The support is huge but it starts from us.
"If we are disciplined, yet bold then we can give the best version of ourselves.”
Unfortunately for Le Bris, history is not on his side with Sunderland’s recent fortunes against the Old Trafford outfit.
Sunderland’s barren record against Manchester United
Within the reverse fixture at Old Trafford back in October, the Black Cats were beaten 2-0 by United, then led by Ruben Amorim, courtesy of goals from Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko.
In the last Stadium of Light showpiece between the two sides back in April 2017, Zlatan Ibrahimovic featured on the scoresheet as ten-man Sunderland fell to a 3-0 defeat.
As a result of their lengthy absence from the top flight of English football, Sunderland have not beaten Man Utd on home soil in over a decade, with their last win on Wearside against Saturday’s visitors coming in February 2016.
Respectively, both Sunderland and United will feel they are back to where they belong in the Premier League, with the Black Cats securing their spot once again for next term and the Red Devils resurgent towards the top end of the table with Carrick at the helm.
However, with Champions League secured and the title out of reach, United may feel their work is done for the 2025/26 campaign, but the Black Cats still have it all to play for as they wrestle to claw back the dwindling chance of finishing in the coveted European places.