Regis Le Bris has urged his Sunderland staff to have an aggressive method to the tip of the Premier League season, beginning with their fixture towards Fulham on Sunday.
The Black Cats are at present eleventh within the English high flight with 12 video games to go, 12 factors above the relegation zone and simply eight behind fifth-placed Chelsea.
Nonetheless, Sunderland have misplaced 4 of their final six Premier League video games (W2), as many as that they had of their first 20 this season (W7 D9).
Defeats towards Arsenal and Liverpool of their final two additionally made it the primary time they’ve misplaced consecutive league video games this season.
However, with captain Granit Xhaka coming back from harm, Le Bris is decided to finish the 2025-26 marketing campaign on the entrance foot.
“We’ve got 12 video games left. So 36 factors obtainable. I need to see the optimistic facet,” stated Le Bris.
“The following sport is one other alternative to win three factors. We all know that on this league, there aren’t any simple video games.
“We spoke about Burnley and Wolves. They’re aggressive and each weekend reveals that clearly.
“We’re in our course of and we need to keep aggressive, however we all know it’s a studying curve. Generally you undergo tough moments and it’s a must to settle for that as a result of it’s a part of the journey.
“You be taught by means of these experiences. You must keep aggressive from a mentality viewpoint.”
Granit Xhaka’s again.
RLB’s pre-Fulham harm replace
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) February 20, 2026
Fulham are simply two factors behind Sunderland in twelfth, however have did not win their final three league matches.
The Cottagers received the reverse fixture 1-0 in November, and Marco Silva is eager to see his facet present their high quality at a troublesome away floor.
“We’ve got to be at our greatest degree. We had been the higher facet towards them on the Cottage, however they’re a strong facet and it’s going to be robust,” stated the Fulham boss.
“We should always take pleasure in enjoying in some of these stadiums, it’s a take a look at to see how succesful we’re in some of these environments.
“We need to win. Our ambition is to go to a troublesome place and present high quality. Fulham, at our greatest degree, will be capable of win the sport.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sunderland – Granit Xhaka
Xhaka has extra assists from line-breaking passes than another participant within the Premier League this season (4).
He’s additionally made eight line-breaking passes which have led to a aim this season (not all immediately assisted by him), additionally a league-high.
Fulham – Raul Jimenez
Jimenez scored Fulham’s winner within the reverse fixture towards Sunderland.
The one staff he’s scored towards in each league conferences in a marketing campaign for the Cottagers is Newcastle United final season.
MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW
Fulham want to full the league double over Sunderland for the primary time because the 2002-03 marketing campaign, when the Black Cats had been relegated from the Premier League.
Sunderland received their final house league sport towards Fulham in December 2017 within the Championship however are winless of their final 5 at house towards them within the Premier League (D3 L2).
Fulham, nevertheless, have misplaced every of their final three Premier League video games, conceding not less than twice every time.
They may lose 4 in a row in a single marketing campaign whereas conceding two or extra targets for the primary time since a run of 9 between February and April 2019.
Although they’re going through almost 15 pictures per sport on common, Sunderland have conceded the joint-4th fewest targets within the Premier League this time period (30). Certainly, the Black Cats have the bottom shot conversion charge towards them within the competitors in 2025-26 (8%).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Sunderland – 39.5%
Draw – 26.6%
Fulham – 33.9%
