The arrival of Lee Johnson had helped the Black Cats climb the table, but recent results have seen them lose ground on Peterborough United and Hull City who are now heavy favourites to seal a spot in the Championship next season.
And back-to-back defeats to Charlton and Wigan have seen hopes of a top two finish fade – ahead of some key fixtures against the likes of Blackpool and Hull City in coming weeks.
But with the battle for the top two still very much open, who are the bookmakers tipping for promotion come the end of the season?
We take a look at who League One title sponsors SkyBet believe will gain promotion this season, and how Sunderland’s odds have shifted in recent weeks.
All odds are correct as of Thursday, April 15.
But with the battle for the top two still very much open, who are the bookmakers tipping for promotion come the end of the season?