This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Comment’ series, this content strand is where the author of the article issues their personal opinion on the topic at hand....

It would not be unreasonable to say that this season is a case of promotion or bust for many people at Sunderland.

Jack Ross came under enormous pressure towards the end of last season after failing to take the Black Cats straight back into the Championship at the first time of asking and, although he has retained his job, he will know the likely consequences if he fails again.

For many of the players he has brought in during his three transfer windows at the helm, they will likely be facing the chop too if the season ends in failure and a new manager is brought in.

But, as things stand, promotion is still very much on the cards with the team currently sat in eighth place with six games played and a game in hand on five of those teams above them.

One of Ross' most recent signings is former QPR defender Joel Lynch, who signed on a free deal after leaving the R's at the end of last season.

In an in-depth interview with the Sunderland Echo on Wednesday, he talked through the manic summer he has experienced and also spoke about his new teammates.

In the article, he bigged-up the players significantly, saying that the levels of the players at the club are of a Championship standard.

However, despite a reasonably positive start to the campaign, this is a statement born completely out of an intent to garner positivity and respect from his new teammates.

Which is, of course, fair enough, but ultimately completely wrong.

There is no doubt that the Black Cats possess players who could cut it with ease in the Championship.

Aiden McGeady is the obvious candidate and somebody who could even still ply his trade in the Premier League, whilst Chris Maguire and Jon McLaughlin have shown that they too are above third-tier standard, out-wide and in-goal respectively.

However, on many occasions a large proportion of their squad, and the unit as a whole, have looked League One level at the very best - and have sometimes struggled to achieve even those standards.

Ross must, of course, shoulder some responsibility. He is, after all, responsible for the tactics, training and how his side are set-up on matchdays.

But in their most recent clash, a 3-0 loss to Peterborough United, they showed that they are still a long way from being a Championship standard side. There was very little game plan and many players in attack and defence looked like passengers.

They may well still go up. The League One promotion race is arguably as open as it has been for a very long time. But that does not make them a side currently ready for Championship football.