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Why Steve Bruce's comments on Sunderland relegation threat are wide of the mark Ex-Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has been speaking about his former club... Standing pitch-side after the final whistle that sunny afternoon in late May, looking up at the terraces packed with exultant, disbelieving faces, it felt like Sunderland had been aptly rewarded with a culmination - not just for a season well-fought against all odds, but in particular, for a home stretch in which they morphed into a more assured and cohesive version of themselves. Europa League qualification was never supposed to be on the cards for the Black Cats last term, and in truth, there were several points during the latter stages of the campaign - even after they had played their way well and justifiably clear of danger - when it felt like an improbability. And yet, here we are, waiting giddily on the cusp of the club’s greatest-ever continental adventure - and in large part, it’s because as those around them faltered, Regis Le Bris’ men got their heads down and ploughed on steadily when it mattered most. But whether they will be able to replicate that wholly unexpected success over the coming months remains to be seen, and to that end, there are certainly those who are stubbornly unconvinced. Indeed, ex-Black Cats boss Steve Bruce is so unsure that he has even gone as far as to earmark his former employers as a potential relegation candidate. Speaking on talkSPORT earlier in the week, when asked for this thoughts on which sides might be facing a battle for survival this season, he said: “Are Sunderland over-achieving? A great club, and I really, really hope not, but their results towards the back end of the season weren’t very good, and they haven’t really added to the squad at all. I worry about them a little bit.” Now, there are arguments, whether you put credence in them or not, that could be used to question Sunderland’s prospects this term. Bruce even touches upon one himself. In an age where we have been conditioned to think standing still in the transfer market is effectively tantamount to going backwards, they have signed just one player, at the time of writing. Their efforts to reinforce further are there for all to see, and you have to believe that, come deadline day, Thomas Meunier won’t be the club’s only new arrival this summer, but there is no denying that the window has been slow. And then, of course, there is the density and trickiness of the Black Cats’ looming fixture schedule - the constant Thursday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday cycle, and all of the logistical challenges it presents. At the present moment in time, squad depth - especially in certain threadbare areas - feels like a slight concern. But to suggest that Sunderland should be worried because they head into the new campaign on something of a downswing is, to be blunt, nonsense. If we take the second derby day victory over Newcastle United - the one that preceded the last international break of the season and kept the Black Cats within striking distance of the European qualification places - as a threshold of sorts, Le Bris’ team lost just two of their final eight matches, taking a total of 14 points in that run. Firstly, as mentioned, they came from behind to snatch a famous win at St. James’ Park, and then they followed that triumph up with a relatively routine 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. The weekend after, they lost 4-3 to Aston Villa, granted, but not before battling their way back to parity having been 3-1 down with five minutes left on the clock. Hell, if Habib Diarra hadn’t squandered a golden opportunity to steal it at the death, they might even have pulled off one of the most thrilling turnarounds in Premier League history. Of course, Sunderland would then inexplicably implode against Nottingham Forest at the Stadium of Light, falling four behind in the first half, and eventually losing 5-0. It was at this point that the European dream truly felt done and dusted. Add to that a 1-1 draw against relegation no-hopers Wolves, albeit with 10-men, and the Black Cats’ season looked to be petering out. The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC Channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join our SAFC WhatsApp channel. Instead, however, they would produce three of their finest displays of the campaign on the spin to render the impossible possible. A stalemate against Manchester United could have quite easily ended in victory, an away trip to Everton ultimately made for light work, and a pivotal home visit from Chelsea... Well, you know the rest. But quite aside from the score-lines and the points hauls, what we were treated to over the final few weeks of last season was a Sunderland team increasingly in their pomp. There was a fluidity and confidence to their attacking patterns, an unruffled orderliness to their possession-based play, a full-blooded grit to their defensive work. In his newfound central berth, Enzo Le Fée was majestic, up front, Brian Brobbey seemed to become more immovable with every passing game. With the exception of the catastrophe against Forest, this was a Black Cats side who looked every inch the established top flight force. And so, it is not with bitterness or pettiness that you have to take issue with Bruce’s assertion, but rather for the sake of simply reflecting the reality of Sunderland’s situation heading into the new season. Maybe they will struggle because of the lack of fresh recruitment. Maybe they will struggle because of their daunting fixture schedule. Maybe they won’t struggle at all. But if they do, it certainly won’t be because they ended last term with a whimper. Your next Sunderland read: 'Tremendous' - Phil Bardsley lavishes praise on key Sunderland figure ahead of European campaign