talkSPORT pundit drops Sunderland and Leeds United promotion verdict live on air
Tony Cascarino has claimed that Leeds are “the team to beat” despite Sunderland sitting top of the Championship table.
A 3-0 demolition job over Plymouth saw Leeds move two points closer to the Black Cats after their goalless draw away to QPR on Saturday, 2 November.
Sunderland entered the game with a five-point advantage that has now been reduced to just three points and Cascarino thinks that Leeds will remain the team to beat.
Speaking live on talkSPORT on Sunday (3 November, 8:47am), he said: “It’s always hard, Leeds I would think would be quite well placed, they sold a number of players in the summer and brought in new ones, Leeds are the team to beat. Sunderland are top at the moment, Sheffield United are there. They bounced back after a couple of defeats, and had a two-point deduction.”
Sunderland point at Loftus Road was a good one
While on paper, a game against 23rd-place QPR is a game Sunderland should be winning, a point isn’t the worst outcome. The Black Cats were reduced to ten men after 58 minutes with Jobe Bellingham sent off for a reckless challenge.
Prior to that, Sunderland didn’t really get going. Offensively Regis Le Bris’ men lacked any real threat with Romaine Mundle in particular finding himself very frustrated throughout.
With that said, when going for promotion, if you can’t win a game it is just as important not to lose it and Sunderland managed that.
The Wearsiders recorded their eighth clean sheet of the season which is a remarkable achievement and is certainly a sign of one that is capable of challenging at the top end of the table.
With Chris Rigg absent for the game, Jobe’s suspension provides a selection dilemma for Le Bris who may have to turn to Milan Aleksic when his side travel to face Preston on Wednesday, 6 November.
In other Sunderland news, loanee Jay Matete admits he needs to keep building momentum during his temporary stint with Bolton Wanderers.
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