Sunderland set to retain Le Bris despite falling bottom after Coventry defeat

Sunderland are set to give Regis le Bris more time to improve their Premier League results despite dropping to the bottom of the table, BBC Sport reported. Club sources told the broadcaster they believe the French manager can turn the team's form around after Saturday's defeat at Coventry left them with one victory from their opening nine league matches.

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The reported backing follows a markedly different campaign from Le Bris' first two seasons in charge. Appointed from Lorient in June 2024, he led Sunderland out of the Championship in his first season, ending an eight-year absence from the Premier League. A seventh-place finish followed the next year, earning the club a Europa League place and its first qualification for European competition in 53 years.

Sunderland's European results this season have been stronger than their domestic form. They have won two and drawn one of their Europa League league-phase games. Dinamo Zagreb visit the Stadium of Light on Thursday before Sunderland host Chelsea in the league on Sunday, the final fixture before the international break. Those matches come with Le Bris under pressure but, according to the BBC's sources, still supported within the club.

The BBC's statistical analysis identifies a change in the quality of chances Sunderland are conceding. Last season, only Burnley and West Ham allowed more attempts, yet Sunderland conceded the fourth-fewest goals. Their opponents' average expected goals per shot was the division's second-lowest, while Sunderland's save percentage was almost 72%, the second-highest figure in the league.

This season, the number of shots Sunderland face per match is almost unchanged, but the danger posed by those attempts has increased. Their opponents' expected goals per shot now ranks second-highest rather than second-lowest, according to the BBC. Sunderland's save rate has also fallen to 50%, the lowest in the top flight, leaving goalkeeper Robin Roefs facing a substantially different defensive picture.

Problems have also emerged in front of goal. Sunderland rank 10th for expected goals but have scored six fewer than that measure suggests, the broadcaster reported. Those figures accompany a start that has put the 50-year-old manager under scrutiny, even after consecutive seasons in which he delivered promotion and European qualification.