SINCE Sunderland’s relegation from the Championship, they’ve played 181 League One games (including play-offs) to get them up to this point where they stand on the cusp of a return to the Championship. Alex Neil has been in charge of 17 of those games and strangely, there seems to be more optimism about their chances now than ever before.

But there is plenty of reason to be. Sunderland are flying at the moment on a 15 match unbeaten run with Alex Neil completing flipping the fortunes of the club on it’s head from when he took over in February. From a period when they were sliding down the table at a rate of knots to walking onto the hallowed turf at Wembley, it’s fair to say it’s been quite the turnaround from the Black Cats boss.

In previous years, Sunderland have slumped their way into the play-offs on a poor run of form and have gone on crash out at the hands of Charlton Athletic in 2019 and Lincoln City in 2021.

The story seemed to be writing itself again when the Black Cats were dreadfully well beaten 6-0 at Bolton Wanderers and were left managerless in the coming days following Lee Johnson’s sacking. But it’s a different story now and the Black Cats crumble has gone off script. Where has it all come from?

He’s inherited the same players that were on a calamitous run of form and looked to have dashed their own hopes of promotion. How has he turned it around? A dose of tough love or an arm around the shoulder? Whatever the treatment, Alex Neil has managed to get his players to sign harmoniously from the same hymn sheet.

It might not have been the most pleasant viewing at times but it’s been mightily effective. They have turned themselves into a resilient side who are hard to beat and will go from minute one to the end. Their recent late winners against Shrewsbury, Crewe Alexandra and Oxford United pay testament to that.

The Northern Echo:

It has started from their own net to the front. A spine of the team that is robust and committed.

Neil’s decision to take away the youthful look to the side may well have looked like a gamble at first but it’s proved to be a masterstroke. The likes of Danny Batth and Bailey Wright in defence know what it takes and are prepared to put their bodies on the line to do so. It may not have been the exact replica of Terry Butcher’s bandage around the head exploits for England but pictures of a bloody faced Wright after their recent win at Hillsborough tell you everything you need to know.

Corry Evans has been a mainstay in the side and his importance has been paramount. An astute operator who can dictate the flow of play and marshall his hard working compatriots of Luke O’Nien and Jay Matete in the middle.

Then of course, you have the prolific Ross Stewart whose case speaks for itself. Alex Neil wouldn’t have had a problem with a supply of goals after 25 to his name this season. Throw Nathan Broadhead’s stellar contribution into the mix and that is a frightening strike partnership.

Neil’s connection with the squad has been there for all to see but it’s his ability to simplify his objectives when handed the job which is probably his most effective trait. With the Sunderland manager’s job, there comes a lot of noise about it’s history and expectation. Neil has not even remotely concerned himself with it and perhaps it’s the ability to block out all the outside noise that has allowed him to develop his connection and understanding with the players.

The Scotsman’s recent comments are attune to that: “I don’t understand how you can say they are not my players. I don’t own anybody” he told the Northern Echo.

“Even if I sign somebody, my relationship with anyone who I sign will be the exact same as the ones that I have got with these lads. Every team that I have ever worked with, every player that I’ve had, my job and responsibility is to try improve them, the team and get results.

“This is my squad, these are my players. Managers give it the whole ‘it’s not my squad’ and what that is buy themselves time. Let’s be honest.”

The Northern Echo: Patrick Roberts leads the celebrations at Hillsborough after his stoppage-time goal secured Sunderland a place in the League One play-off final at Wembley against Wycombe Wanderers

On that theme, his contractual situation of a 12 month rolling deal doesn’t exactly smack security in the face but that nothing to lose mentality of knowing that it could end at any time has alleviate any kind of external pressure regarding the manager’s job.

Aside from all that, Neil deserves a huge amount of credit for getting the best out of ‘his’ squad, reigniting belief among the fanbase and guiding them towards a huge opportunity of sealing the objectives set out at the start of the season.

Irrespective of whether he is at the club next season, and it would be surprising if he wasn’t should they get the job done at Wembley, he is fulfilling the remit set out to him at the beginning of February when he first took over. Now, a winner-takes-all scenario at the home of English football is the final hurdle to achieve a long-awaited return to the Championship.