Despite rescuing a late draw against Burton Albion in midweek, Sunderland sit perilously in the playoff places and could drop out of them should teams below them win their games in hand.
Alex Neil looks like having a huge job on his hands to change the team’s fortunes and guide Sunderland into promotion contention.
The Black Cats have just twelve games left to try and secure themselves a playoff place, but is this likely come the end of the campaign?
Well, here, using data provided by FiveThirtyEight, we take a look at how the rest of the 2021/22 League One season may look and where Sunderland have been predicted to finish under new boss Alex Neil:
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21. Sheffield Wednesday
Predicted points: 80 (+19 GD) - Probability of playoff place: 69% - Probability of promotion: 24% - Probability of finishing 4th: 20% Photo: George Wood
22. MK Dons
Predicted points: 83 (+26 GD) - Probability of playoff place: 76% - Probability of promotion: 32% - Probability of winning League One: 2% - Probability of finishing 3rd: 32% Photo: Clive Mason
23. Wigan Athletic
Predicted points: 92 (+36 GD) - Probability of promotion: 83% - Probability of winning League One: 27%, Probability of finishing 2nd: 53% Photo: Lewis Storey
24. Rotherham United
Predicted points: 97 (+51 GD) - Probability of promotion: 96% - Probability of winning League One: 71% Photo: George Wood