Wilson Isidor’s eight-word statement will excite Sunderland fans ahead of upcoming clash vs Bristol City

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Sunderland have booked themselves a place in the Championship play-offs with games to spare despite 1-0 defeat against Swansea City.

Sunderland suffered a rare home defeat on Saturday afternoon, when Alan Sheehan’s Swansea City came to Wearside, in a substandard 1-0 defeat.

Regis Le Bris’ side booked their place in the play-offs last week after their stalemate at Norwich City, with their automatic promotion hopes mathematically over if they fail to beat Bristol City on Good Friday.

Sunderland’s season has stuttered in recent weeks, with their Championship campaign in limbo given their top-six certainty and top-two aspirations being out of grasp.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LeedsLeeds	42	25	13	4	82	29	53	88
2	BurnleyBurnley	42	24	16	2	57	13	44	88
3	Sheff UtdSheffield Utd	42	26	7	9	57	33	24	83
4	SunderlandSunderland	42	21	13	8	57	38	19	76
5	Bristol CityBristol City	42	16	16	10	54	45	9	64
6	CoventryCoventry	42	18	9	15	59	54	5	63

Their league status has sent Sunderland into a catch-22 scenario, but forward Wilson Isidor has made clear his side’s intent heading into Easter weekend, with their Championship play-off campaign looming as their season stumbles.

• READ MORE: Where are Tony Mowbray’s 22/23 play-off first leg Sunderland squad now

Wilson Isidor admits Sunderland are ‘hungry to finish strong’

Sunderland’s subpar performance against Swansea was symptomatic of their second tier table status.

With a semi-final place already penciled in and top-two hopes over barring a miracle, Sunderland’s second home loss this season felt inconsequential to their season.

The Black Cats managed only three shots on target, and despite dominating 68% of the ball, they failed to create or threaten the Swans’ defence.

Sunderland fans bemoaned Isidor’s performance but he was one of many far below their best. The lack of momentum heading into the play-off campaign is a major worry – as is the concern over creating chances – for supporters with those around Sunderland gaining steam.

After the Swansea loss, the 12-goal forward spoke to reinstall some faith into the fanbase that the Easter weekend double-header will not end their regular season on a whimper.

Isidor told SAFC.com: “This team always bounces back. We know what we’re capable of, and these next two games are a big chance to reset, build momentum again, and head into the play-offs in the right frame of mind.

“The lads are all hungry to finish strong.”

The Frenchman also reflected on Sunderland’s campaign as a whole with the end in sight. He added: “It’s important to remember how brilliant this season has been. We’ve shown what we’re made of, and there’s still so much to play for.

“We want to keep our standards high, keep performing, and make sure we’re ready when it matters most.”

Isidor’s and Sunderland’s mission to end the regular season in a positive vein form is seen as an imperative task with the quality sides on the cards as play-off foes.

However, recent Championship history would indicate momentum matters less than expected going into the season-defining period.

• READ MORE: Sunderland fans all agree that one player is their ‘only hope’ in play-offs

Momentum for play-offs not as important as Sunderland fans fear

Taking last season’s play-off victors Southampton into account, Russell Martin’s side endured a barren run of form as their regular campaign curtailed.

The Saints lost three of their final five outings but beat Leeds United on the final day, then 22 days later inflicted the play-off final defeat onto Daniel Farke’s side.

During the 2022/23 season, in which Luton Town beat Sunderland in the semi-final second leg at Kenilworth Road, picked up only four points from 15 on offer in last five games before visiting the Stadium of Light in the first leg.

The Hatters then went on to beat Coventry City on penalties under the Wembley arches to secure Premier League promotion.

Where Sunderland is concerned, they’ve picked up two wins, a draw and two defeats out of their most recent five before the upcoming Easter weekend double-header to curtail their campaign.

Whether Le Bris’ Black Cats repeat Southampton and Luton’s feats remains to be seen, but their slight stutter in form may not be as consequential to their play-off hopes as some of the Wearside faithful fear.