The four key factors that could define Sunderland's promotion battle with Leeds United, Burnley and more

Who was expecting Regis Le Bris to lay the foundations of what appears to be an unlikely bid for promotion during the first two months of his managerial reign at Sunderland?

Even the most optimistic of Black Cats supporters would have done well to predict what has been an impressive opening two months to the season after the former Lorient head coach guided his side to the top of the Championship table on the back of just two defeats in ten Championship games. There have been memorable moments so far with home wins against Sheffield Wednesday and Burnley introducing Le Bris to the Wearside public in some style before travelling supporters were rewarded with impressive victories against the likes of Portsmouth and Hull City.

Of course, we all know the Championship is fiercely competitive and very unpredictable, meaning nobody connected with Sunderland can take anything for granted. But it would be churlish to suggest they are anything but promotion contenders after outshining several clubs that were expected to dominate the early stages of the new season. But what about what lies ahead for Le Bris and his players and what could define the success or failure of their bid to take Sunderland back into the Premier League for the first time since 2017?

The ‘crucial’ Christmas period

Who doesn’t love going to games over the festive period? It is one of the true joys of English football - and this Christmas could prove even more crucial for Sunderland as they look to continue their push for a return to the Premier League. It would be safe to say the fixture computer hasn’t exactly been kind to the Black Cats as they face an away day double in the week between Christmas Day and New Years Eve. After hosting Norwich City in the final home game before Santa Claus arrives, Sunderland will hit the road on Boxing Day as they visit Blackburn Rovers before venturing away from Wearside three days later when Stoke City will be their destination. The final game of the festive period comes on New Years Day when Le Bris and his players will kick off their 2025 fixtures with a bang as they host fellow promotion contenders Sheffield United.

The January transfer window

Can a whole month be classed as crucial? In this case, yes! The summer transfer window was a successful one for the Black Cats after making a slow start to their recruitment as their search for a new head coach took priority. Once Regis Le Bris was in place, the likes of Alan Browne, Wilson Isidor, Ian Poveda and Chris Mepham all joined the Black Cats and they were followed by recent free agent addition Aaron Connolly. Despite a fantastic opening to life under Le Bris, there remains some areas for improvement within the Sunderland squad and they will surely be addressed in the new year to carry on the momentum into the second half of the season.

February away days

The majority of Sunderland’s February fixtures will take place on Wearside as Watford, Luton Town and Hull City are all scheduled to travel to the Stadium of LIght during the second month of the new year. However, it is the two away days that will capture the attention of many as Le Bris and his squad face two severe tests on the road. On the first day of February, just hours after the transfer window closes for business, Sunderland will make the short trip down the A19 to meet a Middlesbrough side that will hope to avenge the Chris Rigg-inspired defeat they suffered at the Stadium of Light last month. After the home double-header with Watford and Luton, the Black Cats have another seismic away day test as they travel to Elland Road to face Leeds United in what could be a chance to land a major blow on a promotion rivals as the crucial run-in rapidly approaches.

Home double headers

Sunderland’s main area of strength so far this season has been their form in front of the Stadium of Light faithful. As it stands, the Black Cats have taken 13 points from a possible 15 on home soil after seeing off Sheffield Wednesday, Burnley, Middlesbrough and Derby County on home soil and battling to a quite frankly bizarre draw with Leeds United. Only Blackburn Rovers have a better home record than the Black Cats after John Eustace’s men won all five of their Ewood Park fixtures. Curiously, the second half of the season offers Sunderland an opportunity to build the foundations of what they will hope will be a successful push for promotion in front of the Wearside faithful as they face quickfire home double headers on no fewer than three occasions.

That starts with the New Years Day clash with Sheffield United, which is quickly followed by another Wearside clash with Portsmouth just four days later. In February, Watford and Luton Town travel to the Stadium of Light in the space of four days before just three days sit between the visits of Cardiff City and Preston North End in March. Crucially, all three home double headers are followed by challenging away days at Burnley, Leeds United and Coventry City, meaning Le Bris will hope his side can make the most of their home fixtures to head on the road with some confidence.