How many points from Sunderland’s Easter games would constitute success?

Gav says...

This is actually a much tougher question than it perhaps first appears.

Let’s get real - we are fans, and dropping any points at this stage is going to feel disappointing. However, I think you, in some way, have to try and take who we are playing out of the equation slightly.

We have ten games left and I think that reaching 87 points will see us go up as Champions. So, regardless of how we get there, that should be enough.

That said, psychology losing either one of these games could end up being huge. If, worst case, we end up in the playoffs, we could well end up playing Blackpool. And if we lose to Peterborough, that gives them a massive boost in the race for the title.

Trying to rule my heart with my head here, but I think four points, come the end of the season, would probably be good enough for where we want to be.

That said, Lee Johnson won’t be happy with anything other than six points, and with good cause - we are the form team and the side that everyone should be fearing. And if our manager thinks we should be winning both games, then so do I.

Six points has to be the minimum expectation for any team going for the title. We shouldn’t even be considering that a draw, with ten games to go, is an acceptable result.

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Matthew Foster says...

Six points would be magnificent, but I think four points minimum - so long as the draw comes against Peterborough!

I can’t in my heart of hearts see anything other than a Posh win against Fleetwood, so if we were to drop points against Oxford, it would shift the pressure on us to win Monday’s head-to-head.

Whereas if we win, the pressure is fully on Peterborough to beat us. We could draw the game safe in the knowledge that a win in our game in hand would take us above them.

Of course, it’s a dangerous game to play to expect to win our game in hand, given we’ve been burned by that before.

But it comes against a struggling Wigan side whose home form has been dreadful so far, and I can only see us winning that game.

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Phil Butler says...

Like every single Sunderland fan I both hope and believe that we can get six points from six over the Easter weekend. However, I would be content with three points, as long as they’re the right three.

The chances are that Sunderland won’t go unbeaten between now and the end of the season, which means we are likely to lose a game at some point. Now Oxford could be the perfect side to lost against, they’re a good enough side that a defeat wouldn’t spell an inquest into the team and its manager, and they’re also not a direct rival for the top two.

Most fans would take four points from the next two games, but I think we’d be in a better position if we can beat Peterborough than if we beat Oxford and draw against Posh. I’m hoping for six out of six, but as long as we beat our direct rivals it’ll be a successful Easter weekend in my book.