Wise Men Say: Can Phil Parkinson survive another defeat if Gillingham heap more misery on Sunderland?

Phil Parkinson will take his side hoping to achieve at least a shot on target – something they failed to do in 120 minutes of scintillating cup football.

Last season's away game, it was warm, we were good, and everyone was optimistic about an instant return to the Championship. This season, it is December, it is going to rain, Sunderland are 11th and League Two seems closer than the dizzy heights of the League One play-off Places.

Off the back of a measly two wins since the end of September, fans can be forgiven for lacking a bit of enthusiasm about the club’s current plight.

There have been some small positives, Duncan Watmore is looking relatively dangerous and at the very least seems to be back to full fitness.

Denver Hume is becoming a real threat, and Luke O’Nien continues to be one of the most effective, and happy, players on the pitch, wherever he is deployed.

I think that’s about it.

All over the pitch there are errors, bad performances and general disjointed play. It doesn’t seem united now, and nothing seems to be working.

Max Power’s frank, honest interview after the Burton game shows however that while performances have been unacceptable, from most players at least it is not an attitude problem.

The players are letting themselves down, and their levels are not where they need to be. My biggest concern though sits in the dugout and his name is Phil Parkinson.

Here is some more negativity, and I apologise.

He is not the man to take Sunderland forward and never was.

He has achieved the grand total of two wins, although at least we’ve managed to stop those annoying draws.

They have unfortunately been turned into defeats, but you know.

If we do lose I cannot see how Parkinson can remain as Sunderland manager.

If we end up sticking by him after another defeat, we’re basically writing the season off because continue like this and we will finish in the bottom half of the table. Oh joy.