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.
READ MORE: Tony Mowbray could hand starlet Chris Rigg a Championship chance - despite contract uncertainty
"But we've got a really talented squad and we are disappointed to be where we are in the table - we want to be a lot higher - but we have had a lot of injuries, and to big, experienced, players as well. If you pick up a few good wins it [a play-off challenge] can be back on again, so I think we just need to take it one game at a a time and see where we end up.
"We just need to get back to doing what we were doing really well previously. It's been a learning curve for a lot of the lads and I am one of the senior players now, trying to help the team.
"I've really enjoyed playing back in the Championship and hopefully we can finish the season strongly and take it into next year."
Gooch was a regular at right-back earlier in the season but suffered a hip flexor injury in January which kept him out for eight weeks, although he returned to action earlier this month and has been involved from the bench in the last three games. Sunderland head to league leaders Burnley tomorrow night as they resume their campaign following the international break and, with centre-back Dan Ballard picking up a hamstring injury while away with Northern Ireland, boss Tony Mowbray will be forced into a reshuffle which could see Gooch brought back into the starting line-up in order to allow Luke O'Nien to move into central defence.
Gooch said: "It was a long eight weeks out and it was really frustrating not to be involved but it's great to be back and hopefully I can get back in the team. I feel great and I'm happy to be back and trying to get into the team and get back to winning games again.
"I feel I have done well [this season], I've competed really well at right back and I've really enjoyed it. It's been a good [international] break. For me, it's been a case of getting more sessions and getting more training into my legs and trying to get fitter.
"It's been a positive for me to have more training days."
Sunderland face what is, on paper, their toughest game of the season as they prepare to take on Burnley at Turf Moor, with the Clarets just three wins away from clinching an immediate return to the Premier League following relegation last season. But the Black Cats gave Vincent Kompany's side a scare in October when they led 2-0 at half-time on Wearside, albeit the Lancashire side ultimately went on to turn things round and win 4-2.
Gooch said: "It's going to be a tough game, we know that, they're at the top of the league for a reason, but we have competed with everyone this season and we had a really tough game against them here [at the Stadiium of Light] and we were really disappointed at losing. We want to go there and win - that's how we are with every game - but we know it is going to be difficult, but it's going to be difficult for them as well."
READ NEXT:
- Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray hints at loan exit for young defender next season
- Sunderland have 'nothing to fear' at Burnley as Tony Mowbray makes 'aggressive' statement
- Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray has given an injury update ahead of Friday's trip to Burnley
- Tony Mowbray on Sunderland's recruitment system and where he fits into the process
- Sunderland are not short of dressing room leaders, as Luke O'Nien praises Danny Batth's influence
