Sunderland Championship promotion chances assessed as 'unrealistic' verdict given

Sky Sports pundit Curtis Davies does not see Sunderland as a top-six club in the Championship and rated their chances of reaching that goal as “unrealistic”.

The former centre-back who had a career spanning more than 600 games with the likes of Aston Villa, West Brom, Birmingham City and Derby County, has stated that Sunderland’s hopes of achieving that aim of finishing among the frontrunners will be difficult.

Sunderland made the play-offs two years ago before a 16th-place finish last term. As such, Davies doesn’t see enough in the Black Cats’ squad to warrant the expectation.

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The Black Cats are enjoying life under Régis Le Bris, having won their opening two games against Cardiff City away and Sheffield Wednesday at home.

But on Sunday, asked whether they can be top six, Davies said on Sky Sports: “I think it will be difficult. We look at the squad and we look at what they’ve got. They’ve got a lot of promising young players that have got a chance to push on. But as a collective, it’s going to be very difficult, I think, for the top six.

“I think Sunderland’s a club that’s always expected. It’s a big club and especially when you look across the road and you see what’s happening with the noisy neighbours in Newcastle. I think it’s that expectation that’s a little bit unrealistic, but I think they’ve got the potential to build into that.”