North East football journalist Mark Carruthers predicts that Sunderland are set for another year in the Championship - but that their improvement this season should be reason enough for celebration.

The Black Cats are currently fourth on the table and eight points short of an automatic promotion spot, but are seven points clear in the play-offs race.

Carruthers, though, doesn't see Sunderland being joyous at Wembley on 24 May should their promotion hopes come down to the one-off showpiece.

"I think they will get to the play-off final but I think they will lose it," he told BBC Radio Sunderland.