Sunderland are on a five match losing streak if you include their penalty shoot-out loss to Bradford City in the Football League Trophy on Tuesday evening.

Their next league outing will be when they host Ipswich Town on 20th November with Lee Johnson looking to arrest the club's slide.

The former Bristol City manager explained previously how he thinks the blueprint of how to beat the Black Cats is being passed around the division but is confident he can resurrect their automatic promotion push.

Johnson focused on the positives when he spoke to ChronicleLive.

He said: "People have felt the frustration but I think it is easily turn-aroundable.

"We have got good players and we fully believe in what we are doing and the process. We've got time now to rest and recuperate before the next game, because we had a fair few knocks and niggles.

"Elliot Embleton is back now, and Lynden Gooch too. We should be in a position of strength a week on Saturday."

Embleton has been a huge loss to injury in the last month or so, his combination with Ross Stewart had been a key factor in their bullish home form and rise to the summit of the division.

The Verdict

Johnson is completely right that they will be in a much better position when it comes to hosting the Tractor Boys. But they may have their work cut out as Paul Cook's men have won four of their last six including an eye-catching 4-1 demolition to halt Wycombe Wanderers' 100% home record last time out in the league.

A run of Charlton Athletic, Rotherham United, Sheffield Wednesday and then Ipswich Town in League One is tough at the best of times but you would still be backing Sunderland to take more than zero points from the quartet. The pressure on Johnson's shoulders is building.