The winter break for the Qatar World Cup will give Tony Mowbray and Sunderland a welcome opportunity to hit reset after a solid start to the Championship campaign. The Black Cats have been hit by a number of injuries to key players in recent weeks, a factor that coincided with their drop down the table.
Ellis Simms returned to action in recent weeks, while Ross Stewart was pictured back in light training before the break. Sunderland lacked a focal point on the pitch with their only two strikers out injured, but the break will give the duo an opportunity to get back up to speed ahead of a return to action.
Mowbray's side have already shown they're a threat for any side in the division, and they're more than capable of sneaking into the play-offs with a strong second-half of the campaign. As things stand, Sunderland are just four points off the play-off picture, with Millwall - their next opponents at the Stadium of Light.
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A win would move the Wearsiders back into contention, if results go their way. Chronicle Live has taken a look back at the last five years to see how many points on average club's need to reach the play-offs come the end of the season, and how many they'd need to avoid relegation.
Mowbray's side currently have 27 points, just four above the relegation zone. Over the last five years, going back to Sunderland's last Championship campaign, clubs have needed 43 points to stave off relegation.
The Black Cats are well on course to reaching that magic number, but a solid January window could see them set their sights on loftier ambitions. 74 points has been the magic number to reach the play-offs and Sunderland are still within touching distance of the early pace setters.
You can see the full play-off and relegation picture below.
Championship 2021/22 season
Play-offs
1. Fulham 90pts
2. Bournemouth 88pts
3. Huddersfield Town 82pts
4. Nottingham Forest 80pts
5. Sheffield United 75pts
6. Luton Town 75pts
Relegation zone
22. Peterborough 37pts
23. Derby County 34pts
24. Barnsley 30pts
Championship 2020/21 season
Play-offs
1. Norwich City 97pts
2. Watford 91pts
3. Brentford 87pts
4. Swansea City 80pts
5. Barnsley 78pts
6. Bournemouth 77pts
Relegation zone
22. Wycombe 43pts
23. Rotherham United 42pts
24. Sheffield Wednesday 41pts
Championship 2019/20 season
Play-offs
1. Leeds United 93pts
2. West Brom 83pts
3. Brentford 81pts
4. Fulham 81pts
5. Cardiff City 73pts
6. Swansea City 70pts
Relegation zone
22. Charlton 48pts
23. Wigan 47pts
24. Hull City 45pts
Championship 2018/19 season
Play-offs
1. Norwich City 94pts
2. Sheffield United 89pts
3. Leeds United 83pts
4.West Brom 80pts
5. Aston Villa 76pts
6. Derby County 74pts
Relegation zone
22. Rotherham United 40pts
23. Bolton 32pts
24. Ipswich Town 31pts
Championship 2017/18 season
Play-offs
1. Wolves 99pts
2. Cardiff City 90pts
3. Fulham 88pts
4. Aston Villa 83pts
5. Middlesbrough 76pts
6. Derby County 75pts
Relegation zone
22. Barnsley 41pts
23. Burton Albion 41pts
24. Sunderland 37pts
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