SUNDERLAND will return to action at the end of the international break with their Championship status hanging by a thread.

Five points adrift of safety – effectively six once their dreadful goal difference is taken into account – Chris Coleman’s side will almost certainly have to win at least half of their remaining eight matches to have any chance of clambering to safety.

Given they only have claimed five league wins in the whole of the rest of the season, that is an exceptionally tough task. So what can Coleman do in an attempt to turn things around?

The Black Cats boss has already tried pretty much everything since taking over from Simon Grayson in November, so his options for the final eight games are limited. However, there are still a few things he could do to try to improve things between now and the end of the season?


Persuade Martin Bain to give away tickets for free

The Northern Echo: EMPTY SEATS: The crowds at the Stadium of Light have dropped dramatically

Sunderland have four more home games to play, but at the moment, the prospect of running out in front of a half-empty Stadium of Light is hardly an appealing one. If anything, it will be Sheffield Wednesday, Norwich, Burton and Wolves rubbing their hands at the thought of playing on Wearside in the final six weeks of the season.

It is unrealistic to expect Sunderland’s stay-away supporters to pay prices of more than £20 to watch their side scrambling around at the foot of the table, but there is a good chance a large number could be persuaded to attend if they were offered tickets for free.

Yes, some season-ticket holders might complain about fans getting in for nothing when they have already paid to attend the game, but there is a much bigger picture to consider. A packed and passionate Stadium of Light could be Sunderland’s best weapon in their remaining home games.


Revert to a flat back four

The Northern Echo: FIVE AT THE BACK: Lamine Kone has been part of a five-man backline in recent weeks

Coleman has spent most of his time on Wearside playing with five at the back. For a while, it looked as though the ploy had helped make the backline more secure, but things have unravelled badly in the last few games.

Sunderland have not kept a clean sheet in the last ten games, and in seven of those matches, they have conceded at least two goals. That is hardly a good advertisement for their five-man defence.

With Jake Clarke-Salter unavailable because of his second suspension in the space of two months, it seems a logical time to revert to a flat back four. If nothing else, at least the players should feel more comfortable in a 4-4-2.


Drop John O’Shea and Lee Cattermole

The Northern Echo: Bolton vs Sunderland 20/02/18

For most of his time in charge of the Black Cats, Coleman has shuffled his pack on a regular basis. Players have been promoted to the first team, only to find themselves dropped a couple of games later.

In fairness to the Sunderland boss, no one has merited an extended run in the team, but two players have tended to avoid the axe. John O’Shea has started all bar one of Coleman’s games in charge, Lee Cattermole has played whenever he has been fit.

The pair provide plenty of experience, but are inextricably linked to the problems of Sunderland’s past. Might it be time to start with a new broom?


Start with Kazenga LuaLua

The Northern Echo: BACK TO FITNESS: Kazenga LuaLua

Since moving to the Stadium of Light in the final stages of the transfer window, Kazenga LuaLua has been restricted to four substitute appearances.

Had he been fit, he would almost certainly have played more, but Coleman has been keen to protect him from suffering further setbacks. With just four more games to go, though, the time for such circumspection has been and gone.

LuaLua showed signs of positivity after coming off the bench in the latter stages of Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Preston, and came close to scoring with a free-kick. He is one of the few Sunderland players capable of beating a defender, and has experience of battling against relegation with Brighton. Surely he has to start at the Ipro.


Resign from his role

The Northern Echo: Chris Coleman

Admittedly, this is a drastic option. Coleman has repeatedly insisted he will not walk away no matter how bad things get, and his refusal to throw in the towel is admirable given he was being touted for jobs in the Premier League during the latter stages of his time with Wales.

However, what if he is now part of the problem rather than a potential solution? Might a new face and a fresh set of ideas spark a reaction in the remaining eight games?

On all available evidence, you’d have to say it would be unlikely. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and while a change of manager at such a late stage in the day would be just about as desperate as it gets, nothing else seems to be making a difference.