The Local Lowdown: Sunderland

Sunderland reached the Championship play-offs in May, losing out to Luton in the semi-finals. How was that season seen by the club and fans?

Sunderland's first season back in the Championship exceeded all expectations, having finished fifth in League One and won promotion via the play-offs the season before.

A season of consolidation was expected and the priority was to stay clear of the relegation battle at the bottom end of the table, so to compete for a play-off place - and secure one on the last day - with a young side playing attractive football under Tony Mowbray added up to an excellent campaign.

There was disappointment at losing out in the play-off semi-final, as you would expect, but not at the way the season as a whole had panned out.

How much has the squad changed over the summer, and what was the general expectation coming into this season?

The squad has changed quite a bit and, as I write this on deadline day, it is likely to change even more before the day is out!

Players such as last season's top scorer Amad, French midfielder Edouard Michut, and Leeds forward Joe Gelhardt all returned to their parents clubs, while a couple of fringe players have moved on.

Seven new players have arrived, with former Blackburn midfielder Bradley Dack the most high-profile, along with a number of promising youngsters such as Jobe Bellingham from Birmingham, striker Luis Hemir from Benfica, and defender Nectar Triantis from Australian side Central Coast Mariners.

As for expectations, obviously they will be higher this season than last.

Sixth place was a bonus last term, but the expectation will be that Sunderland improve on that this season - and in a division that is stronger this year than last, that will be a tall order.

How has the team looked in the first month of the new campaign?

It has been a tricky start, to be honest.

Sunderland look short of firepower, which is a problem that has been evident all summer and really should have been addressed earlier in the window.

Ross Stewart's injury last season was a major blow and he is not yet fully fit.

Sunderland started with back-to-back defeats at home against newly-promoted Ipswich Town and then at Preston North End, clocked up their first win at home against Rotherham United, and then earned a good away point at last season's beaten play-off finalists Coventry City.

Tomorrow's game against Southampton will be their toughest test yet, and any new signings they make on deadline day will not be eligible to play as they will have come too late to be registered ahead of this weekend.

Which players should Saints look out for?

Winger Jack Clarke is a real threat down the left and he contributed nine goals last season, while Patrick Roberts - another player who has attracted interest from Southampton - is a box of tricks on the right.

Jobe Bellingham in action for Birmingham City last season.

Dack is a wily character and his ability at this level is well-known, while 17-year-old Bellingham is young and inexperienced but his two goals against Rotherham showed that he can be a real asset at this level.

The Stadium of Light is a vast arena. What sort of crowd are you expecting on Saturday and how is the atmosphere?

The game is a lunchtime TV fixture but that will not dent the attendance significantly - there will be well over 40,000 there.

The atmosphere has been very good so far, and a game against a Saints side that is one of the frontrunners for promotion will raise things a notch.

This is the last game before the international break, and a positive result tomorrow would make the next fortnight much more enjoyable for Mowbray and the Sunderland fans!

How do you see the game going?

That's the million-dollar question, isn't it? Clearly, Southampton will be favourites.

They have a lot of quality in their squad and arrive on Wearside unbeaten.

Sunderland may or may not lose one or more key players on deadline day which would be a big blow if that were to happen.

There is still a feeling that Sunderland have yet to click into gear, and that might not happen until any deadline day arrivals settle in.

Sunderland could really do with a win given this is a home game but, in the circumstances, I think they'd probably settle for a draw.