Sunderland boss Chris Coleman claims that Tuesday night's trip to Bolton Wanderers is the club's 'game of the season', after the Black Cats were beaten 2-0 by Brentford on Saturday afternoon.

The crisis club have lost exactly half of their 32 league games this season and are currently three points adrift of safety in the Championship relegation zone.

The Black Cats are in a desperate predicament just now and Coleman knows that they must start winning football matches soon if they are to avoid the embarrassment of a second successive relegation.

The Trotters were also defeated on Saturday and Coleman has pinpointed his side's trip to the Macron Stadium in midweek as a defining game for his charges.

Speaking after his team lost for the 16th time this season, Coleman told BBC Newcastle: "There is a lack of cohesion and confidence, there are nerves.

"It's not the time of the season to have that problem and we can't afford that. Tuesday's game is the game of the season for us. It'll be a big test."

The reverse fixture between the two sides back in October was the game that ensured Coleman's predecessor Simon Grayson was sacked and the ex-Wales boss will be keen not to suffer the same fate.

With relegation a real possibility, however, it remains to be seen what direction the club might take if the unthinkable does turn into reality.

The Verdict

Chris Coleman is bang on the money when he talks about the importance of Sunderland beating Bolton and losing the game would leave the Black Cats with a near impossible task to stay in the Championship.

In a strange way playing away from the Stadium of Light might prove to be a good thing, given the club's horrific form of two wins in 26 games on home soil.

Coleman is a likable bloke but he needs to start consistently picking up results, if he is to have any chance of leading Sunderland away from the drop zone.

Sunderland fans, how will your team get on against Bolton? Let us know in the comments below!!!