Sunderland are hoping to end a six-game losing streak when they host Queens Park Rangers at the Stadium of Light this weekend.

Mike Dodds remains without a point since returning to the dugout as Sunderland's interim head coach having lost all four games in charge, adding to defeats at Huddersfield Town and Birmingham City under previous head coach Michael Beale. 

Sunderland's run of form has seen their play-off aspirations plunge with the club now, perhaps, more fearful of looking over their shoulder with the top six now 11 points away with just nine games remaining. 

And it's a run of form which lends itself to further question marks surrounding Sunderland's philosophy over the course of the last 12 months, having failed to build on their play-off campaign in 2022-23.

Dodds' quest for a first victory of his third spell in charge has not been helped as Sunderland's defensive crisis worsened this week following news of Jenson Seelt's season-ending injury.

The Dutchman picked up a significant knee injury in the 4-2 defeat at Southampton which will bring his first year on Wearside to a premature end while Dodds will also be without captain Luke O'Nien, who serves the second of his two-match suspension, and potentially Dan Ballard who picked up a hamstring issue at St. Mary's. 

Ballard and Seelt join the likes of Dennis Cirkin, Aji Alese and Niall Huggins as defenders who are currently unavailable whilst Jack Clarke, Patrick Roberts and Bradley Dack remain absent in attack. 

It means there will be added pressure on Sunderland to end their recent poor run of form with the visit of QPR as We Are Sunderland welcome James Hunter to reflect on the state of play at the Stadium of Light and a look ahead to that game with Martí Cifuentes' side. 

You can watch the latest briefing here or via our YouTube channel: