Sunderland's League One play-off points target as Black Cats aim for strong finish

Sunderland may need to get the highest number of points in the last 10 years to qualify for the League One play-offs this season. But the good news is that they're already reached the average threshold to make it into the top six.

The Black Cats currently occupy the final play-off place on 73 points, with five games still to play. Wycombe Wanderers are level on points in seventh, but have played a game more, while Oxford United have fallen behind in the race, lying in eighth on 69 points with only four more to play.

Alex Neil has overseen a steadying of the ship at the Stadium of Light and, if they do make the play-offs, they are likely to enter the end-of-season battle as one of the most in-form sides in the league. However, the race is far from run, and it appears this campaign will see one of the highest points totals among the top sides.

In the last 10 fully completed seasons - not including the 2019-20 campaign which was decided on points-per-game due Covid - the highest points total for a sixth-placed side has been 74 points, one less than the Wearsiders already have.

Only once since 2011 has the sixth-placed threshold fallen below the 70-point total, in 2015 when Chesterfield made the play-offs on 69 points. Sunderland could yet finish on 88 points, and while five wins from their final games would be incredible, it bodes well for their play-off hopes.

Of course previous seasons count for nothing when it comes to this year's campaign, but it does put Sunderland's performance into more context - and the level of competition they are up against. Neil must oversee the Easter fixtures against Shrewsbury and Plymouth, before what they will hope are very winnable home games against Cambridge and out-of-form Rotherham.