Data experts predicts how Sunderland will fare under Alex Neil and its verdict on Portsmouth, Sheffield Wednesday, Wigan Athletic and Ipswich Town’s quest for promotion
By Joe Buck
Published 11th Feb 2022, 12:00 BST
Updated 11th Feb 2022, 12:39 BST
It has been a roller coaster few weeks for Sunderland, but how have their promotion chances been affected by recent events?
The Black Cats have suffered three defeats in a row and although they currently occupy a playoff berth, their automatic promotion hopes are fading, and teams below are catching up fast.
However, a new manager will bring optimism back to Wearside and Sunderland have 15 games to make good on their early season promise and end the season on a high.
Is automatic promotion a likely outcome this season? Or will it be the dreaded playoffs once again for Sunderland? Or worse?
Here, courtesy of FiveThirtyEight, a ‘supercomputer’ has predicted how the 2021/22 League One season will finish and which position each team is most likely to finish the season in, based on statistical analysis.
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Is automatic promotion a likely outcome this season? Or will it be the dreaded playoffs once again for Sunderland? Or worse?
17. 8th: Plymouth Argyle - 75 points
Ryan Lowe’s departure looks like costing The Pilgrims a place in the playoffs this season. Although they have picked up their form in recent times, the supercomputer is predicting they will narrowly miss out on finishing in the top six.
Supercomputer prediction: 37% chance of a playoff place, 12% chance of automatic promotion Photo: GLYN KIRK
Alex Neil looks like he has a tough job on his hands to steer the Black Cats back into the promotion picture. Three defeats in a row certainly haven’t helped their cause as the supercomputer predicts them to narrowly miss out on playoff football all together this campaign.
Supercomputer prediction: 49% chance of a playoff place, 17% chance of automatic promotion Photo: Alex Burstow
The team that can’t stop scoring at the minute, according to the supercomputer, Oxford’s recent resurgence will be enough to fire them ahead of Sunderland and finish in a playoff berth.
Supercomputer prediction: 53% chance of a playoff place, 22% chance of automatic promotion, 1% chance of winning League One Photo: Richard Heathcote
Wycombe were successful in the playoffs two years ago and they are being predicted to return to them again this season as they aim to secure their return to the Championship.
Supercomputer prediction: 54% chance of a playoff place, 22% chance of automatic promotion, 2% chance of winning League One Photo: Warren Little