It is shaping up to be a nervy end to the season for Jack Ross' Sunderland, who just cannot seem to find any consistency in their game whatsoever.
After a dismal few years both on and off the pitch, the Stadium of Light faithful are absolutely desperate for promotion, and rightfully so, but the pressure really is on Ross and his playing staff to deliver.
They looked to be well back on course for automatic promotion after moving back into the top two in midweek, with a 1-1 draw against Burton Albion, but even then, they stumbled across the line.
The Black Cats were then on the receiving end of an extraordinary 5-4 home defeat to Coventry City at the weekend, perhaps summing up what a tricky, tough season it has been for them at times.
It's hard to believe that despite spending big on the likes of Will Grigg and having plenty of quality players in their squad, Ross' men are still making things hard for themselves, and inviting the likes of Portsmouth and Barnsley back into contention of a top two finish.
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If they do stay in League One beyond this season, then Ross will be looking to reassemble his squad again, and one player that should definitely be on the club's radar is Marcus Maddison from Peterborough United.
The 25-year old is coming into his own again this season, and after netting six goals in his last seven games, he is now on nine goals and 16 assists for the campaign.
Maddison is a very good player at League One level - the playmaker has attracted a host of high-profile clubs over the last couple of years, with the Black Cats declaring an interest in the midfielder at the start of the summer.
A Durham boy born and bred, you certainly wouldn't put it past Maddison moving back to the North East to sign for Sunderland in the summer, and it's an option that the Black Cats must surely look to consider.
Sunderland is his boyhood club, an admission that the 25-year old was keen to share on his Instagram recently, and he would be a fantastic replacement for Aiden McGeady, who may not wish to stay at the Stadium of Light if they are in League One next term.