Former Sunderland boss Gus Poyet admits he expected the Black Cats to secure automatic promotion this season, and has warned the challenge of climbing out of League One will only get harder with time.
Alex Neil earned his first victory in charge of Sunderland with an emphatic 3-0 away victory against promotion rivals Wigan Athletic on Saturday. The win lifted the Black Cats back into the playoff spots, but they remain seven points adrift of the top-two with both Rotherham United and Wigan holding games in hand.
Poyet spent two years at the Stadium of Light following his appointment in October 2013, and helped the club achieve a 'miracle' by avoiding relegation with a remarkable run of form at the end of the season. This turnaround led to the former Chelsea midfielder signing a new contract, but he was dismissed in March 2015 following a run of just one win in 12 matches.
