Sunderland almost sunk by Leeds with Black Cats fortunate to escape with draw

Sunderland were far from their best against Leeds United, but came away with a point to maintain their impressive unbeaten home record in the Premier League.

In what has been a season of celebration for Sunderland so far, there was a tinge of festive frustration at the Stadium of Light as they drew with Leeds United in the Black Cats’ final match of 2025. A calendar year that has been one to remember in red and white, ended with a performance unbefitting of what came before it.

Nevertheless, Sunderland managed to maintain their unbeaten record at the Stadium of Light, a point of real pride for Régis Le Bris’ side, given some of the opposition that have ventured north to Wearside so far. However, it is hard to imagine that Le Bris was not slightly disappointed at what occurred on the pitch against Leeds.

Sunderland tend not to dominate teams at home, and unsurprisingly, they didn’t against Leeds. They happily conceded possession, waiting to strike at the right moment, like a heavyweight boxer avoiding punches, before delivering a knockout blow. What was perhaps more alarming, was the way that the visitors managed to move the ball around Sunderland, with such confidence and composure.

But, like they have so many times this season, Sunderland found the lead, when their man for all occasions Granit Xhaka, picked out Simon Adingra, who duly scored his first goal for the club. The Stadium of Light breathed a collective sigh of relief in the cold, Wearside air.

It’s fair to say that if this had been earlier in the season, Leeds would likely have crumbled. Despite the two sides being separated by 24 points at the end of last season in the Championship, Sunderland took to the top flight much more comfortably than Leeds. Daniel Farke has tinkered since the early weeks though, and Leeds continued to look like a well-oiled machine at the Stadium of Light.

The equaliser, when it came early in the second half, was almost inevitable. Sunderland could have added a second at the end of the first period, but Leeds looked the more able side. Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s deft finish flummoxed Robin Roefs, as the England forward latched onto Brenden Aaronson’s low delivery.

At this point Sunderland looked haunted by the Africa Cup of Nations. The tournament in Morocco, which has seen Reinildo Mandava, Noah Sadiki and Bertrand Traoré amongst others taken away from the Black Cats’ squad, was starting to have an impact. Sunderland were under siege.

And yet, a siege mentality has often been where Sunderland have succeeded. The result may not have been the one they wanted at full time, but it could have been worse, much worse, if not for the Black Cats’ sheer will not to concede again. It was almost as if Régis Le Bris instructed a brick wall to be built on the goal line.

Eventually, Sunderland did steady the ship, and the game ended with points being shared. That ship nearly sunk on this occasion though, and there will certainly be work needed to make it float again, before the Black Cats welcome Manchester City into their waters, still without several of their star men away at AFCON.