Former Sunderland star Danny Collins believes that fifth and sixth spots in the Championship table are up for grabs for the Black Cats this season.
Michael Beale has managed to register his first win of his Sunderland tenure by securing a 1-0 victory over Hull City on Boxing Day.
Three points against the Tigers have enabled them to climb back to sixth place and now on Friday they are set to take on Rotherham United, who are at the bottom of the league table.
Collins believes that fifth and sixth place are up for grabs for Sunderland and stressed that Beale’s side need to keep churning on wins out as the race for the playoffs is tight this season.
The ex-Black Cats star stated that despite Rotherham’s league table position, the Millers will be high on confidence going into the game against Sunderland after their win over Middlesbrough on Tuesday.
Collins told the Sunderland players that they have not had good times in their recent visits to the New York Stadium.
When asked about the playoff race, Collins told Sunderland’s media: “Tight pack, in there in amongst it.
‘I think you look down to Leeds, who have that six-point gap to West Brom and then all to play for, isn’t it?
“As I said, I still fancy those two places, fifth and sixth up for grabs.
“There is still a lot of football to play and if one of those other teams drop right off it, Leeds or Southampton, then they might come out of that pack as well.
“We just have to keep churning the games out, keep winning and go down to Rotherham on Friday.
“People will look at the table; they are down there, but they have had a good 1-0 win against Middlesbrough today [Tuesday] at home and we have been there in the past and we have come away on the back of a hiding a season or two ago.”
Sunderland have failed to win on their last two visits to the New York Stadium and now it remains to be seen whether Beale’s side will be able to change that record on Friday.
