WHATEVER happens between now and the end of the season at the Stadium of Light, there is going to be an overwhelming sense of what might have been.

Instead of the anticipated push for Europe in the run in, Sunderland are facing up to the prospect of a fight just to stay ahead of the bottom three.

It is not something new to the Black Cats. Even under the chairmanship of Niall Quinn they have faced such a scenario in each of their first three years back in the top-flight.

The difference this year, however, is that under the ownership of Ellis Short it was supposed to have been different. Sunderland could still achieve their pre-season aim of a top ten finish, but it could have been so much better.

Sunderland had every chance of claiming a Europa League place this season. In the first half of the year they showed that they possessed the quality within their ranks to stake a serious claim for seventh place at least.

Now they will be happy to end up seventh from bottom after slipping to an eighth match without a victory – seven defeats and one draw – at home to West Bromwich Albion.

It is a fall that has manager Steve Bruce even scratching his head.

There will be those that point to the departure of Darren Bent as the turning point and, undoubtedly, his £24m departure did play a part – particularly given that he was not replaced.

But Sunderland's drop in fortunes is not purely down to just that. Even now there seems little point in keeping an unhappy player when the offer on the table is such a substantial one.

In Asamoah Gyan, a £13m buy from Rennes, Sunderland should still have had the man in the ranks to deliver in his absence. The difficulty Bruce has faced is how to play to suit the Ghanaian.

With injuries to Danny Welbeck and Fraizer Campbell, alternative options have been limited for Bruce as well. Gyan has had to be included regardless of how Bruce would have liked his team to line up.

But what has been more pivotal to Sunderland's decline has been the introduction of Sulley Muntari and Stephane Sessegnon to the team.

Without question both Africans have incredible ability, you just have to delve in to the reports of both players to see the sort of quality Sunderland have acquired.

But, like in Gyan's case, Bruce has found it has not been as easy as he would have liked to accommodate them seamlessly in to his starting line-up. It is likely to be next season or beyond when they find their best.

That was highlighted on Saturday, when Bruce attempted to thwart an alarming slump in results by leaving them both out of his first XI.

Bruce has plenty of central midfielders, arguably all more defensive than forward-thinkers, and it is a lack of creativity through the middle which has been lacking.

Injuries to key personnel have also undoubtedly played their part in Sunderland's disappointments this season, while promising Jordan Henderson's influence has clearly waned. But there should still have been enough in the squad to keep them in the top ten.

It is all about staying in the top-flight again for Sunderland, which is unlikely to please Quinn and the club's American owner Short.

Progress has clearly been made under Bruce, but this summer should be about making sure there are suitable alternatives within his squad when injuries do hit.

If he can do that, Sunderland could finally be ready to do what Petet Reid managed twice – finished seventh in the Premier League. Until then, the wait goes on.