In our latest ‘We Discuss’ piece, writers Roy Thomson and Jeff Muxlow discuss the League One promotion race.
Managerless Luton and Netflix stars Sunderland shared a 1-1 draw this weekend, so where does that leave the hopes of both sides? Over to you boys.
JM: Afternoon Roy, we saw two of the top sides in League One going at each other this weekend, Sunderland and Luton. I’m surprised Luton put up the sort of fight they did given the turbulent week they had. It was a brave effort in a really heated and combative game. Having men sent off will dent each other’s push, plus a draw was best for Portsmouth after they dropped points. I wonder which side will be the happier of the two?
RT: Afternoon James. On balance I think Luton will be the happier of the two. Bringing in a club legend like Harford was a good move. It inspired the players and allowed the to forget the turmoil of the week and get a really good point.
However they need to make the right appointment long-term or the momentums Jones created could be lost. Sunderland are drawing a lot of games and they need to start picking up wins if they are going to go up automatically and avoid the play offs. Another big crowd at the Stadium of Light which I think can sometimes be a burden rather than an advantage, putting pressure on the home side and lifting the away team. When all said and done, with the backing Sunderland have, don’t you think they should be strolling this league?”
JM: They perhaps should, but if you’ve seen much of the Netflix series about their campaign last season, you’ll understand the immense pressure they’re under. It’s a big club, arguably one of the biggest to have been at this level for some time. If they were successful in the Premier League, they could easily build a 50,000 capacity stadium and fill it every week.
They won’t be as happy with the Luton draw, but it was a big contrast of approaches. One side is on the up and I firmly believe the Hatters will keep that up and finish in the top six. The other, Sunderland, have scraped rock bottom and yet the two are on a level of sorts. Just think, five or six years ago Sunderland would play Manchester United and Arsenal, Luton faced Salisbury and Bath City. That makes the renaissance at Kenilworth Road even more remarkable. I’m genuinely excited for the Hatters.
RT: It is a massive pressure on Sunderland and this might be their downfall. If Jack Ross can manage the fans expectations and get the team playing without fear in the run in, then they should go up. If not they might end up with another season in League One. The Netflix documentary also illustrated two things other than the pressure at the club. The passion for football in Sunderland and how badly run the club had been run in the past. Ellis Short has now gone and the new owners are as desperate for promotion as the fans. Ross has done a great job reshaping the squad but he needs to deliver in May.
You are right, it is exciting times at Kenilworth Road, but their next managerial appointment is crucial if they are to maintain momentum. Get it wrong and they might fall out of the promotion reckoning. They have had their problems with ownership in the past but the current regime is running the club in the correct way and I expect them to get it right and appoint someone who will carry on the amazing work started by Jones.
It is interesting times for both clubs
JM: It certainly is. That we definitely agree on!
