Sunderland

Former Sunderland player Kieron Brady wants the club to take steps "not generally thought of as a norm in football" to help inspire the team to the Championship play-off final.

Talking to BBC Radio Newcastle after what he described as a "flat" and "insipid" 1-0 loss at home to Swansea, Brady said "there is an element of surrealism" to the Black Cats' end to the season.

"It's completely unlike two years ago when Sunderland's foray into the play-offs was very last gasp after victory at Preston," Brady said.

"It's something that most have suspected is going to be the case now for four to six to even eight weeks.

"So many of the thoughts now are on what happens once the 46 games are concluded and Sunderland make their way to one of Coventry, West Brom, Bristol City or Middlesbrough for the first leg."

"For the second leg, the club should be in discussion with supporters now about making the atmosphere as conducive as possible to Sunderland navigating a path to Wembley. That for me is a big thing. I've been at the Stadium of Light when the fans should have got an assist for a goal.

"I've never understood why the notion of a 12th man has never ever been explored further and greater communication hasn't taken place between supporters groups and the club."

Brady thinks Regis Le Bris' side could take some inspiration from fierce rivals Newcastle in terms of using fans to spur on the team.

"Because of the work I do for the Premier League, it takes me quite often to St James' and there's no doubt that a lot of the more productive and positive performances that Newcastle have given, have been enhanced by lulls which are then followed by a huge surge of noise.

"That is something that is much more likely to encourage the players in any given moment, particularly if they're going through a period that's challenging."

Brady added: "It's just something that would be worth exploring because on Saturday against Swansea, the 12th man was poor.

"If we can say all 11 others that took to the field were poor, why can't we say that the 12th was equally uninspiring? There is a reciprocal element to this where the inspiration goes both ways.

"I just think with this knowledge that you're going to be playing at the Stadium of Light in the second leg and have three-four weeks ahead to plan for it, try and cover every single eventuality. Even the ones that aren't generally thought of as a norm within football."

Listen to more from Kieron Brady on BBC Sounds.

Harrison Jones is the latest academy product to break into the first team at Sunderland. The Championship's youngest team fielded five homegrown players in the starting XI against Swansea.

After making his first league start for the Black Cats, 20-year-old Jones is looking to follow in the footsteps of captain Dan Neil in living out his boyhood dream of representing the club he supports.

"I've been in the crowd many, many times myself," the midfielder told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"I know what they want to see on the pitch so it's what I try to emulate.

"Working hard, I think that's just an absolute given. To represent Sunderland you have to work your socks off and play fast attacking football which we tried to do, it just didn't create the goal."

Although the result did not come for Regis Le Bris' side as they fell to a 1-0 home defeat, they are safe in the knowledge they have already qualified for the play-offs.

With four games left to go of the regular Championship season, it is an opportunity to manage the squad and give young players like Jones a chance.

"I see this week being just the whole year's worth of effort which has finally allowed me to get on the pitch which I think I've deserved to," Jones added.

"Obviously the results haven't gone our way but I'm really grateful for the opportunity and really proud that I've been able to represent Sunderland which is what I've been aiming to do for many, many years now."

Prior to this first start, Jones had featured on the bench 26 times for the Black Cats this season, making two substitute appearances - something he says has been invaluable experience.

"For me, it's not just sitting on the bench, it's being involved in a first team changing room. It's seeing the level," he added.

"Seeing what the Championship looks like because not many have seen it inside the dressing room so I've learned so much from just being on the bench itself and by doing that it's allowed me to nurture and become better so when I do play, I'm able to fit right in."

Listen to more from Harrison Jones on BBC Sounds.

Sunderland are now assured of a play-off spot and a win over Swansea would guarantee them at least a fourth-placed finish

Swansea go into the game on the back of a three-match unbeaten run.

• After their 3-2 win in December, Sunderland are looking to record their first league double over Swansea City since 1963-64.

• Swansea have won each of their past three away league games at Sunderland, this after only winning two of their first 14 beforehand (D5 L7).

• Sunderland have earned 43 points in 20 Championship home games this season, their most from their opening 20 home matches of a season in one of England's top two tiers since 2004-05 (46).

• Swansea have only won one of their past nine away league outings (D2 L6), a 1-0 victory at Bristol City in February.

• Sunderland have kept a clean sheet in each of their past three league games, last keeping four in a row in the Championship in February 2007.

Former Sunderland defender Danny Collins has reflected on Milan Aleksic's struggling start to his career at the club after the 0-0 draw with Norwich City marked just his second start for the Black Cats.

Aleksic became a Black Cat in August last year, joining from Serbian side Radnicki on a four-year contract, but has made just six appearances in the Championship, becoming a perennial unused substitute as he tries to adapt to English football.

Regis Le Bris started the 19-year-old at Carrow Road on the right-hand side of midfield but Aleksic lasted 68 minutes without making much of an impact on proceedings.

"It's been a difficult one for him," Collins told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"From what I've seen prior to Norwich, I thought he had been quite good. A couple of opportunities which he hadn't taken but he was quite sharp with the ball in the middle of the park.

"I think his favourite position would be playing in an eight, and I thought Regis Le Bris would have played him there against Norwich and Chris Rigg would be the one out on the right with Patrick Roberts dropping to the bench.

"But he put Aleksic out on the right-hand side and he struggled.

"I think both wingers did. Tommy [Watson] came in on the left and neither could really get into the game, beat the full-back and look after the ball."

With their play-off status secured following the stalemate at Norwich, Sunderland's next game is against Swansea City on Saturday and Le Bris may look to experiment with his line-ups and personnel over the remaining five games of the regular season, potentially giving someone like Aleksic more opportunities.

"He's been on the bench 31 times unused this season," Collins added. "As a player that's demoralising. Week-in, week-out, he's probably thinking, 'I'm not getting on here'.

"When we're saying about Chris Rigg and Jobe [Bellingham] playing week after week and fans have been saying they look a bit leggy now, give him 10-15 minutes in games and he's not been getting that.

"Then to chuck him straight in last night and he struggled and he looked frustrated when he went off. So, interesting now to see what happens with him on Saturday.

"Does Le Bris keep Aleksic back in there? Or maybe brings him back out and he'll have to reassess, keep his head down and train again."

Listen to more from Danny Collins on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris said his team have "earned" their top-six place after a point against Norwich was enough to ensure they will be in the play-offs.

"It's a great achievement for the team, the staff and the club, so it's nice to be in the play-offs and have another purpose," he told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"We earned this opportunity and now it's important to manage the squad properly, to give some minutes to the youngest players so they can learn from experiences, and for the others who have played many games so far, it will be an opportunity to find the right balance, to be in good shape and refresh when necessary.

"In the first half we were too reserved, but after 30 minutes it was a little bit better, and during half time we spoke about the boldness we had to have, away against a strong team, and it was better in the second half."

Image source, PA Media

Sunderland winger Romaine Mundle could miss the rest of the season after suffering a recurrence of a hamstring injury during Saturday's 1-0 win at West Bromwich Albion.

Striker Eliezer Mayenda deputised out wide in Mundle's absence when he went off on Saturday, while Brighton-bound Tommy Watson and Enzo Le Fee, who returned from injury at the Hawthorns, are also options.

Who would you like to see fill the spot in the final six Championship games and potential play-off matches?

Let us know your thoughts here on who should replace Mundle on the left wing and the reasons why.

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris says his side "will have to manage a tough game" when face Norwich at Carrow Road on Tuesday.

The manager told BBC Radio Newcastle: "They are a good team - really strong in possession with many threats to score, to run in behind, to dribble, to play over, to play round. Many options in this team."

With Norwich fighting for an outside chance of play-off qualification while Sunderland will confirm their spot with a positive result, Le Bris also acknowledged the "two different dynamics".

"For us, we still have to build this momentum," he said. "Every game, whatever the opponent, our squad, the team line-up, we want to be consistent.

"The progress of the team is not linear but I think for example at West Brom we showed a very strong consistency, out of possession especially.

"So this experience will be really interesting to keep learning, to keep pushing as a team, to keep improving different elements to our game."

You can listen to more from Regis Le Bris on BBC Sounds.

Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini has been reflecting on the Black Cats' win against West Brom on Saturday.

Gabbiadini told BBC Radio Newcastle: "It's the right time of the year to be winning 1-0, isn't it? Those kind of victories are very pleasing.

"It was a fantastic defensive performance again and just solidifies our position in the table as well as showing that we are a really good defensive unit and when we get the opportunity to break and cause trouble we can do that as well," he added.

"We're scoring all kinds of goals, maybe not enough of them but the variation is there, different players contributing at different times so lots to be pleased of at this stage in the season especially."

Gabbiadini also highlighted the consistency of Regis Le Bris' side.

"When things haven't been going well, we usually come back with a good result," he said.

"People were questioning our form and formation and the players that he was picking a few weeks ago after that Leeds result, the Coventry one. But all of a sudden it's just gone steady again and I think that is what we have been this season.

"We have been the most consistent team in the league.

"We maybe haven't put a scintillating run of five wins out of six in there which makes you an automatic promotion contender but our consistency levels when we're a team that is very young and inexperienced, that has been remarkable really.

"The manager takes a lot of credit and I'm sure he's very proud of his players."

Listen to more Sunderland discussion on BBC Sounds.

Sunderland's 1-0 win at West Brom marked Anthony Patterson's 50th clean sheet for the club.

The goalkeeper has made 159 appearances for the Black Cats having come through their academy.

He has previously come under criticism this season when it comes to commanding his box and coming out to catch crosses but boasts a clean sheet every 3.18 games.

Talking to BBC Radio Newcastle's Nick Barnes after reaching the milestone at The Hawthorns, Patterson said: "I didn't have a great deal to do but it shows the character of the lads who dug in really well and defended with their hearts on their sleeves to keep the ball away from me, which I'm thankful for.

"We knew what West Brom were going to be like," Patterson added.

"They were going to be good with the ball, make it really difficult for us. I think everyone defended really, really well and that showed in the game. We came away with three points and a clean sheet."

You can listen to more from Anthony Patterson on BBC Sounds.