SUNDERLAND are eight games unbeaten and eight games shy of the midway point of the Championship season.

So how will the table look when the Black Cats turn for home? The coming spell feels crucial for Regis Le Bris' side, for while Sunderland haven't tasted defeat since the end of September, they're also winless in their last three after a string of frustrating draws.

How they negotiate the coming fixtures - particularly with some key players missing - will tell us a lot about the Black Cats and their promotion credentials this season.

So what are the challenges and obstacles ahead? And which games look particularly key?

MILLWALL (A) - Saturday, November 23

No Championship team has picked up more points than Millwall since Neil Harris was reappointed as boss earlier this year.

Harris guided the Lions to Championship safety last season and the early signs are they'll be challenging at the other end of the table this time around.

Millwall are unbeaten in seven and have only conceded two goals in that time. It's been quite the turnaround for the Lions who lost their first two games but have only suffered defeat twice in 13 outings since. And after conceding seven goals in their first two games, they've only conceded six goals in 13 games since.

On recent form, Sunderland look to be facing the ultimate Championship challenge when they head for the capital on Saturday.

WEST BROM (H) - Tuesday, November 26

The wise money here would be on a draw, for that's how six of West Brom's last seven games have finished.

The Championship's draw experts are stubborn defensively but have found themselves frustrated at the other end, having only scored more than a single goal in a game on two occasions over the course of the past two months.

But they did get back to winning ways at Hull last time out in what was Carlos Corberan's 100th game in charge.

He said: “I forgot completely that today was game number one hundred with West Bromwich Albion. This is something which can only make me feel very, very, very proud.

“To give a victory to the fans before the international break is very important, especially when you consider we have struggled to get wins recently.

“It’s a special victory because when you look at the two teams, Hull City played on Tuesday night and we played on Thursday night. We played 48 hours later and played today after less than 72 hours recovery. Normally you need at least 72 hours to properly recover.

“We’ve had problems with injuries recently, but I’m really proud to see how much commitment the players put on the pitch today. Without this mentality, the victory wouldn’t have been possible."

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SHEFFIELD UNITED (A) - Friday, November 29

What a test this could prove to be for the Black Cats.

Rounding off a difficult first week back after the international break, Sunderland head to face a side who signed off for the stoppage with four straight wins, including a Steel City derby victory over Sheffield Wednesday.

That was the perfect response to successive defeats to Leeds and Middlesbrough and Chris Wilder's side look certain to stick around in automatic promotion contention.

The Blades have now won their last six home games without conceding a goal and have a player in form in summer signing Tyrese Campbell, who has scored three goals in four outings.

Wilder said: “We’re delighted he chose us, he had other options.

“Physically he was nowhere near it at the start, so he had to work extremely hard. He’s getting the rewards and I’ve got a really talented footballer.”

STOKE CITY (H) - Saturday, December 7

Stoke appear to be finding their feet under new boss Narcis Pelach.

After a mixed start following the change in the dugout, the Potters are now unbeaten in three with victories over Derby and Blackburn and a hard-fought point against in-form Millwall last time out.

Stoke have lost only once in their last eight games and Pelach thinks the signs are promising.

He said: “Of course we need to build something big and I think we can but with these first few weeks it is clear to see what we wanted to do or what we said we were going to do: a complete team, a versatile team, not exceptional in any phase but know how to manage ourselves in each of the phases, strong at set plays, lots of energy, lots of togetherness, lots of belief, emotionally connected to the project.

“I think we’re seeing this and we’re getting there. We want to be a difficult team to get beat, that if you play against Stoke that it’s going to be difficult. We’ve lost one of the last eight so that tells you we are getting there, step by step.”

BRISTOL CITY (H) - Tuesday, December 10

Bristol City are a team, like Stoke, finding their feet and improving.

After winning just one of their first five matches, the Robins have now lost just one of their last 10.

And they've picked up more points on their travels than they have at home.

Liam Manning's side have won three and lost just two of their eight games away from home, with impressive victories at Norwich and Preston this month.

SWANSEA CITY (A) - Saturday, December 14

Swansea have had a steady enough start to the season and are currently in the top half, but they've only won one of their last four at home and haven't scored more than a single goal in a home game since mid-August.

They have, however, only lost once on home turf this season.

After facing Leeds immediately after the international break, Swansea have a presentable run against Derby, Portsmouth, Luton and Plymouth prior to their visit of Sunderland, so will hope to welcome Le Bris' side on something of a high.

NORWICH CITY (H) - Saturday, December 21

The picture has changed for Norwich City in recent weeks.

After a run of four wins in six games, the Canaries were well placed and looked set for a promotion push this term.

But they've lost their last three games and are winless in six since thumping Hull City.

And boss Johannes Hoff Thorup pulled no punches after their Bristol City defeat prior to the break.

He said: "There was no energy. No desire. There was none of that extra it takes to be able to win a match. We can talk about tactics and positions and whatever, but we still need to be able to bring that extra into a game to be able to win it.

"Maybe fair enough given the moment we are in that some of the players are lacking that because we have stretched them to the limits. Some of them are not supposed to be playing three games consecutively in a week like this, coming back from injuries or in the fitness state they're in, but that's what we ask of them at the moment."

BLACKBURN (A) - Boxing Day

Blackburn made a terrific start to the season but faltered and were winless in four prior to their much-needed success at Cardiff before the break.

Blackburn haven't yet been outside the top 10 so far this season, impressive considering last season's struggle against relegation.

But Lewis Travis says Rovers are now intent on staying in contention at the top end.

He said: “I think we’re in a good place. At the start of the season, people would’ve taken where we are.

"We had been tipped to go down and we believed we'd never be that. We're ninth and that doesn't do us justice. We're disappointed with some results.

“I think after our performances, we are disappointed not to be in the top six. That Watford and Stoke game especially, we dominated and should be six points better off. That means we are in the top six, at least.

“We have to keep working and carry on how we’re doing because then we will hopefully be right up there."