It appears imminent. Sunderland, barring any significant surprises, is set to compete in the Championship next season. The Black Cats squandered any chance of survival in a crucial match on the 31st matchday of the Premier League, which was postponed. Gus Poyet’s side suffered a 1-2 defeat to West Ham, leaving their fate out of their control.
Andy Carroll, scoring his second goal of the season, set the Hammers on course for victory, closely followed by Senegalese player Mohamed Diamé.
Despite Johnson’s late goal to narrow the deficit, Sunderland’s fate remains unchanged. After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, Sunderland is poised for another stint in the Championship, facing a daunting schedule ahead with matches against Tottenham, Everton, Manchester City, and Chelsea in their next four outings.