Sunderland should work with fans before play-offs

BBC News

15-04-2025

Former Sunderland player Kieron Brady wants the club to take steps "not generally thought of as a norm in football" to help inspire the team to the Championship play-off final. Talking to BBC Radio Newcastle after what he described as a "flat" and "insipid" 1-0 loss at home to Swansea, Brady said "there is an element of surrealism" to the Black Cats' end to the season. "It's completely unlike two years ago when Sunderland's foray into the play-offs was very last gasp after victory at Preston," Brady said."It's something that most have suspected is going to be the case now for four to six to even eight week."So many of the thoughts now are on what happens once the 46 games are concluded and Sunderland make their way to one of Coventry, West Brom, Bristol City or Middlesbrough for the first leg.""For the second leg, the club should be in discussion with supporters now about making the atmosphere as conducive as possible to Sunderland navigating a path to Wembley. That for me is a big thing. I've been at the Stadium of Light when the fans should have got an assist for a goal."I've never understood why the notion of a 12th man has never ever been explored further and greater communication hasn't taken place between supporters groups and the club."Brady thinks Regis Le Bris' side could take some inspiration from fierce rivals Newcastle in terms of using fans to spur on the team. "Because of the work I do for the Premier League, it takes me quite often to St James' and there's no doubt that a lot of the more productive and positive performances that Newcastle have given, have been enhanced by lulls which are then followed by a huge surge of noise. "That is something that is much more likely to encourage the players in any given moment, particularly if they're going through a period that's challenging."Brady added: "It's just something that would be worth exploring because on Saturday against Swansea, the 12th man was poor. "If we can say all 11 others that took to the field were poor, why can't we say that the 12th was equally uninspiring? There is a reciprocal element to this where the inspiration goes both ways. "I just think with this knowledge that you're going to be playing at the Stadium of Light in the second leg and have three-four weeks ahead to plan for it, try and cover every single eventuality. Even the ones that aren't generally thought of as a norm within football."Listen to more from Kieron Brady on BBC Sounds.