Promotion, play-off heartbreak, relegation. It’s all been confirmed and for once, Sunderland haven’t been involved in any of it. Instead of sitting patiently, waiting for the final 24/25 Championship sides to be confirmed, Bailey James has been gathering research on each team and put it together here to keep you up to date on each opponent Sunderland will face in the upcoming season. This is part one of three, showcasing the first seven teams alphabetically in the division...
BLACKBURN ROVERS
Blackburn’s season was a rollercoaster ride, from being in a playoff position midway through the season to desperately needing points to survive and going 10 games without a win at one point. Overall, it has been a wake-up call for Blackburn and a really poor campaign but how did it happen? Previously, they had finished 7th just outside the playoffs, with Sunderland finishing above them. However, coming into 23/24 they couldn’t hold on to crucial players like goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski and forward Ben Brereton Diaz yet only spent £1.5 million on transfers - the rest were frees and loans. The new season started and Blackburn’s style of play had changed; their quicker and more direct passing could be effective in short bursts but problematic for creating clear-cut