Sunderland: Where Regis Le Bris’ side need to improve in 2026-27
Sunderland were one of the worst teams in the Premier League in a number of attacking metrics in 2025-26, as Regis Le Bris’ boys look ahead to a big 2026-27 campaign.
In their first season back in the Premier League, Black Cats fans were treated to a memorable year of top-flight football.
A four-game unbeaten run crowned with back-to-back wins in their last two matches saw them secure a seventh-placed finish, opening the doors to European football on Wearside for the first time since 1973.
Plenty of shrewd transfer business enabled a host of quality players to make the Stadium of Light their playground, with the Black Cats now boasting a strong core to build around moving forward.
However, despite all the success they had in 2025-26, Le Bris’ side weren’t without fault, as the Frenchman has some clear areas to improve his team.
Where were Sunderland at their weakest in 2025-26?
Sunderland and Hull City both defied the odds last season, with the Tigers earning promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs, despite being under transfer restrictions.
The majority of the Black Cats’ success was built around strong defensive performances, conceding just 48 times in the Premier League, with their 1.3 goals conceded per game the fourth-fewest in the top-flight.
| Sunderland’s home/away form PL 25-26 | Home | Away |
| Wins | 9 | 5 |
| Draws | 6 | 6 |
| Defeats | 4 | 8 |
| Goal difference | +5 | -11 |
| Points | 33 | 21 |
However, at the other end of the pitch it was a different story for Sunderland, netting just 42 times in the league and needing their defence to see home many of their results.
It’s here, in the attacking department, that holds the key to another memorable 2026-27 season in prospect, if Sunderland can improve here over the summer through the market, and on the pitch.
As per FotMob, Sunderland’s 1.1 goals scored per game saw them rank 17th in the Premier League, whilst their 3.4 shots on target per game was only enough to place them 18th.
Sunderland’s 64 big chances created again ranked them in 17th, whilst their average of 297.5 passes per game was the third-fewest in the top flight.
Meanwhile, Le Bris’ side were 19th for accurate crosses per game with 3.1, and their nine goals scored from set-pieces were the third-fewest in the division behind both Burnley and Wolves with seven.
Sunderland also ranked 17th for possessions won in the final third per match with 3.1; the focus of the Black Cats’ transfer window should be pretty clear.
Sunderland’s disciplinary record needs cleaning up
There’s nothing that Sunderland fans love seeing more than their players snapping into tackles and fighting for their shirt.
Le Bris’ men certainly did that for them in 2025-26, but it did come at the expense of a poor disciplinary record.
Indeed, Sunderland’s 82 yellow cards were the fifth-most in the Premier League, whilst their three red cards received were the third-most respectively.
Especially with a European campaign to contend with as well in 2026-27, Sunderland can’t afford to have too many players missing through suspensions when squad rotation is desperately needed.
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