The Championship xG table has shown that Sunderland are far below where they should sit in the division this season with one area vastly underperforming.
The 2023/24 campaign is about to come to an uninspiring end at Sunderland. Despite the season originally holding such promise, it will be one that fans will quickly want to be wiped from their memories.
Despite the Stadium of Light faithful dreaming of promotion to the Premier League, Sunderland’s only potential aim in the final three games is securing a top-half finish.
Much of this can be put down to the shambolic mid-season form which saw both Tony Mowbray and Michael Beale sacked. Mike Dodds has since taken the mantle on a temporary basis, but results have not changed.
Now, one statistic indicates that Sunderland are in fact in a false position and should be much further up the table.
Sunderland should be in the playoffs
One big statistic that clubs now use around the globe is xG. This indicates how many goals a side should be scoring or conceding across a league season.
These stats are collected in multiple leagues including the Championship.
According to FootyStats, Sunderland has averaged an xG of 1.52 per game with an xGA of 1.2. If the club were consistently meeting this criteria, it would put them fifth, comfortably inside the playoffs. The only teams that would be above Sunderland are the current top four.
This suggests that many of the tactics deployed across the season are in fact working, it is the first-team player’s inability to execute them which is the problem.
From these statistics, there is a clear position that has cost the club a playoff spot this season that needs to quickly be sorted.
Read more: How much each Sunderland player is earning across the 2023/24 season.
Sunderland’s attackers have let the club down
Sunderland’s attacking force has been blunt this season. The club have only managed to score 52 goals in the Championship throughout the campaign.
Yet, according to WhoScored, the club are underperforming this by 10.02, the fifth-worst in the division.
Considering how close many of Sunderland’s games have been, the attacker’s inability to finish their chances has clearly cost the Black Cats.
In 2024 alone, 12 Championship games involving Sunderland were decided by one goal or less. 10 of these matches ended in a draw or defeat for the Black Cats.
Therefore, if the attackers were capable of putting away their chances in these close games, it is easy to see where these extra points would come from.
A new striker is a must in the summer
While a new manager will be the main focus of the Sunderland fans this summer, it is clear that a new set of attackers must come in.
With Jack Clarke and Jobe Bellingham consistently being linked away, if the club do decide to cash in, they will have plenty of resources to build a new attacking line-up.
Sunderland cannot expect promotion next season if a similar underperformance occurs.
Hopefully, targets are already being drawn up so when the new manager eventually comes in, he will have plenty of time to form his new squad.