Sunderland are still in with a shout of making it into Europe next season.

Don Goodman has claimed that Sunderland’s recent results against Nottingham Forest and Wolves represent a “real missed opportunity” for the club in their bid for European football this season.

The Black Cats suffered a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Forest in late April before dropping points in a 1-1 draw against Wolves the following weekend, and now sit twelfth in the table on 48 points.

And while European qualification is still a mathematical possibility for Regis Le Bris’ side, Goodman has suggested that they have been notably hindered in efforts by those consecutive slip-ups against struggling opposition.

What has Don Goodman said about Sunderland’s European hopes?

Speaking to Parimatch Casino, he said: “The two results were a real missed opportunity at home against Nottingham Forest and away at Wolves. Forest are a good team, they were excellent...”

“I do not think anyone saw a five-goal rout coming at the Stadium of Light, though. On paper, they would have looked at those fixtures and thought that if they could get six points, Europe would be a serious possibility.

The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC Channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join our SAFC WhatsApp channel.

“As it stands, they are still only four points off a European spot, but I think there are too many other teams between them and that place. The permutation of results would have to be crazy for Sunderland to have a chance.

“While it was disappointing to only take one point from those games, the positive is that the season has been beyond what anyone could have predicted. Doing the double over Newcastle is the cherry on top of the icing on the cake for them.”

Your next Sunderland read: Phil Smith: What surprise Sunderland sale claims mean for club's short and long-term future