Sunderland have 'over-achieved' for much of their first season back in the Championship, according to Lynden Gooch - and are disappointed to have dropped into midtable after hitting a sticky patch. After winning promotion last season, the Black Cats have exceeded expectations and spent most of the campaign in and around the play-off spots.
But, with injuries to key players such as top scorer Ross Stewart, skipper Corry Evans, and Gooch himself taking their toll more recently, they have won just one of their last seven games which has seen them slip to 11th in the table, seven points outside the play-off places. Gooch says it has still been a good season for Sunderland overall, considering they finished fifth in the third tier last term and are adapting to a higher grade of football with a largely young and inexperienced squad, but there is still a feeling they could have done even better.
"As a whole, when you look back from the start of the season, it has been brilliant - we've competed really well," said Gooch. "Obviously, as of late, we've dropped a few more points but to be competitive in this league in the way we have after finishing fifth in League One and going up through the play-offs, I think we have over-achieved for a lot of the season.
