Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has pointed to his facet’s “perception” as one of many key causes for his or her constructive season so far.
The Black Cats are at the moment eighth within the Premier League, stage on factors with seventh-place Brentford, who they face on the Gtech Neighborhood Stadium on Wednesday.
Sunderland remained 4 factors off the Champions League locations after they got here from behind to attract 1-1 with Tottenham on the weekend, courtesy of a robust strike from Brian Brobbey.
They’ve additionally come again from a purpose right down to beat Chelsea and draw in opposition to Arsenal within the 2025-26 marketing campaign.
Le Bris praised his facet’s resilience and the perspective of their substitutes after their stalemate with Spurs.
“It’s a query of perception,” stated Le Bris.
Granit Xhaka, Sunderland AFC Captain. pic.twitter.com/MVmjrlQyeF
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) January 5, 2026
“When you may flip a recreation round like that, it provides you confidence for the long run as a result of you understand you are able to do it once more.
“We’ve proven many occasions that it’s doable, and that perception is all the time in our minds.
“The bench helped us as soon as once more as a result of we want our finishers. Generally we want one, two, or three, and so they helped lots.”
Brentford are unbeaten of their final 5 matches within the league after they beat Everton 4-2 on Sunday.
Igor Thiago scored a hat-trick within the victory on the Hill Dickinson Stadium, marking his first objectives within the league since a win over Burnley on the finish of November.
“It’s an excellent feeling,” stated the Brazilian striker.
“I’m completely happy for my efficiency and to get the three factors from a tricky recreation.
“Everybody helps me, everybody believes in me, so thanks to my team-mates, the workers and the followers as effectively.
“It means a lot to me. It means they [fans] assist me, they imagine in me, they belief me, and so they push me, so I’m actually completely happy after they sing my identify and after they assist me.”
Good Morning pic.twitter.com/Hwb1Fprmrn
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) January 5, 2026
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brentford – Igor Thiago
Thiago has scored 14 Premier League objectives this season for Brentford, only one wanting probably the most by a Brazilian participant in a single marketing campaign within the competitors (15).
That report was beforehand set by three gamers: Roberto Firmino in 2017-18, Gabriel Martinelli in 2022-23, and Matheus Cunha in 2024-25.
Sunderland – Brian Brobbey
Including to his strikes in opposition to Arsenal and Bournemouth earlier within the season, Brobbey now has three objectives to his identify within the Premier League.
The 23-year-old is already one purpose wanting equalling his Eredivisie tally from 2024-25, when he scored 4 occasions in 30 appearances.
MATCH PREDICTION – BRENTFORD WIN
That is simply the second time Brentford have hosted Sunderland in a league recreation within the twenty first century, following a 3-3 draw within the Championship in October 2017.
Brentford have earned 34 factors from a doable 39 at house in opposition to promoted golf equipment within the Premier League (W11 D1 L1). The exceptions have been a 2-1 loss to Norwich Metropolis in November 2021 and a 1-1 draw with Leeds United final month.
And Brentford have gained six of their 10 house Premier League matches this season (D3 L1) beneath new supervisor Keith Andrews. It’s the most wins by a Bees supervisor in his first 10 house league video games since Mark Warburton gained 9 of his first 10 in 2013-14 in League One.
Following their 2-1 win on the Stadium of Mild in August, Sunderland wish to full their first league double over Brentford since 1987-88 within the third tier.
Nonetheless, Sunderland have drawn every of their final 4 Premier League video games, and will turn into the primary facet to attract 5 in a row within the competitors since Fulham from December 2020 to January 2021.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Brentford – 57.6%
Draw – 22%
Sunderland – 20.4%
