Regis Le Bris must solve struggling Sunderland star’s goal drought ahead of 24/25 Championship play-offs

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Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris must address glaring goalscoring issue with the side’s play-off place already guaranteed.

Sunderland’s Championship campaign has been in limbo for several weeks as the season approaches its climax.

The Black Cats’ play-off place was made mathematically sure following their 0-0 draw at Norwich last weekend but in reality, fourth spot in the Championship table has been Sunderland’s inevitable finish for months.

Sunderland suffered a 1-0 defeat on home soil to Alan Sheehan’s Swansea side on Saturday in a lethargic display symptomatic of the state of their season.

Ahead of the upcoming play-off campaign, Black Cats boss Regis Le Bris has one glaring goalscoring issue to solve, so Sunderland can get back to their potent best to revitalise their promotion push.

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Regis Le Bris must solve Sunderland ace Wilson Isidor’s goals drought

In Le Bris’ first campaign on Wearside, his side took the second tier by storm early in the season, occupying the summit for several weeks ahead of the festive fixture list.

However, Sunderland’s form has dropped since the turn of the year as the three title contenders above them gained ground, which has kept the Black Cats rooted in fourth for the majority of this year.

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	41	18	8	15	58	53	5	62

First-choice striker Wilson Isidor’s form has perfectly mirrored that too.

Since he arrived from Zenit St Petersburg last summer, the Frenchman has scored 12 goals and notched two assists in 39 Championship appearances this season, currently the joint-fifth highest scorer in the league.

Despite this prolific return, Isidor has failed to find the net in his last nine outings, with last goal in red and white coming in the 2-1 defeat at Elland Road.

Isidor’s deteriorating displays culminated in his display against the Swans, in which he was caught offside four times in the first 45 minutes, and had the least touches (16) of any player who played the full 90′.

Le Bris admitted Sunderland struggled to create chances in the Swansea defeat and that was abundantly clear in their lacklustre display.

With Sunderland’s major “concern” being creating chances of late, an injection of life came when Roma loanee Enzo Le Fee entered the Stadium of Light field on the hour-mark, but the inventive midfielder could not unlock the Swans’ defence.

Sunderland fans bemoaned Isidor’s performance, with some labelling it as “woeful”. But in fairness to the out-of-form Frenchman, his service has been dreadful of late, as Sunderland have deviated from their high-pressing style which swept defences aside early in the season to a more reserved and safe style of play.

This regression from their early season style in which Isidor was so potent – with shouts for the Championship Golden Boot – has massively negated the best assets the 12-goal striker yields which propelled him to becoming one of the league’s most prolific forwards.

Isidor was in fine form during the opening stages of the season, with notable goals including; his 70-yard run and chip at Hull City, embarrassing Middlesbrough keeper Mark Travers with skill to tap home and his deft backheel versus Blackburn.

All crucial goals for Sunderland this season which exemplify the best of Isidor and share one common trait that Le Bris must return his Black Cats side to for the upcoming play-off campaign.

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How Regis Le Bris can turn Wilson Isidor’s, and Sunderland’s, form around for play-offs

Since suffering that late comeback against Leeds in February, Sunderland’s season has stagnated both in table prospects and performances.

If the best of Sunderland under Le Bris could be illustrated in one performance this season, it would be their early 4-0 hammering at home of Sheffield Wednesday, in which their high-pressing and intense style was simply too much for Danny Rohl’s visitors to handle.

The Black Cats have looked their most dangerous this season when playing one to two-touch attacking football, winning the ball high up the field and breaking with pace and purpose, rather than the passive and unimaginative displays witnessed by the Wearside faithful of late.

Four of Isidor’s 12 goals this season have come from fast breaks, with his raw pace and athleticism a constant thorn in the side of Championship defences. Playing on the last line, looking to attack the space in behind and making a menace of himself in the opposition’s box.

Being caught offside four times in 45 minutes doesn’t make great reading, but it highlights the dissonance between how Isidor wants to impact the game by being on the last defender, and the slower style of build-up Sunderland has been utilising in their recent run.

Le Bris must revert to the set-up and tactics that saw Sunderland scorch to the summit earlier in the season, for the upcoming play-off campaigns, to get the best out of Isidor and thus, give the Black Cats their best hopes of Premier League promotion.