Sunderland’s “Dreaded December”? Let’s Embrace It!

Sunderland’s positive start to life back in the Premier League has often been caveated by other teams’ fans and so-called pundits. After picking up fourteen points from the first eight games, we were told we “Hadn’t played anyone decent yet” — yet in two of the next three, we picked up four points from Chelsea and Arsenal.

We were also told that things would fall apart in December, and then with AFCON. This was back at the start of the season and in all honesty, there was and still is some concern over the prospect of both.

We now sit on the edge of November, looking into December with a run of games involving Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle, Brighton and Manchester City again. On paper, this is a rough run with games that we’ll be desperate to win (at least one — no guesses as to which), but in reality, I can’t help but feel excited.

Liverpool are stinking the place out at the moment and have lost nine of their last twelve games in all competitions.

Their last two home games finished in 0-3 and 1-4 defeats, and when watching them against Nottingham Forest, they looked sluggish and out of ideas. I now find myself hoping that Arne Slot isn’t sacked before we go there on Wednesday, which is bizarre for many reasons.

The second toughest game of the entire season probably follows, with Manchester City away — usually a daunting place to go. Erling Haaland loves scoring goals and although he’s pretty much their sole goalscorer, keeping him quiet will be a challenge for Régis Le Bris, but one he’ll relish as always.

As soon as the fixtures were announced, Liverpool and City away within the space of four days stood out as a “Bloody hell” moment for Sunderland; back in June, it felt as though this would be the week when we’d all be thinking “Welcome back to the Premier League”.

Context is a fine friend most of the time, and with the first of our December games around the corner, it feels as though Sunderland could continue to raise eyebrows. Any points from Anfield or the Etihad Stadium would be huge, and the Wear-Tyne derby needs no introduction.

Brighton away just before Christmas will be a proper test, and the home game against Leeds will be a game against a side currently devoid of confidence or hope if social media is to be taken at face value. When Manchester City come to the Stadium of Light, we’ll be in the midst of AFCON and up to half a dozen players may be away.

This will be the toughest match when our squad is at less than full strength, but under the lights on a cold night, there’ll doubtless be plenty of places at which they would rather start the New Year — especially if we’re still unbeaten on Wearside by then.

Whatever your thoughts on the “dreaded” December fixtures, they’re inevitable.

The games are coming and they’re going to come thick and fast. This run is a chance to truly test ourselves, and we should embrace whatever comes and take stock of where we are when January comes. It’s a tough run, but we’ve shown we can be a tough team that isn’t beaten easily.