"Next level" - Dennis Cirkin drops confident Sunderland AFC claim | OneFootball

The Black Cats let a two-goal lead slip on Saturday.

Dennis Cirkin believes that Sunderland will be up at the top end of the league by the end of the season because of the quality of their team.

The full capability that we have seen from this Black Cats side since Regis Le Bris took over was on full display on Saturday when they took a 2-0 lead in the first-half against Coventry City.

Their lead was built on a pair of beautiful finishes from Wilson Isidor and Cirkin. The Frenchman guided a Romaine Mundle cross to the front post into the top corner of the far side of the goal. That finish was precision and technique. Cirkin's, on the other hand, was brute power, rifling the ball into the back of the net from outside the box after a 50-yard run.

It was plain sailing for Sunderland up until the second half; it was then that things started to wobble. Haji Wright pounced on a loose ball and finished well at the near post to get the Sky Blues back in it. Then a cross into the box in the 84th minute found the head of Jack Rudoni, who nodded past Simon Moore in the home net.

Dennis Cirkin makes Sunderland end of season prediction

The full-back, who has been linked with a move away from the Stadium of Light to fellow promotion hopefuls Leeds United, was disappointed with his side not being able to hold on to their lead, but believes that the level of the players in their team gives them a great chance of being up at the top end of the division come May.

He said, via the Northern Echo: "The mood isn’t going to be the best after being two up, is it? But we have unity in this group, a togetherness where you have the captain speaking, the manager speaking and everyone is talking.

"It is frustrating that we didn’t win but everyone knows we can learn and turn mistakes into positives. I see us as a team to be up there at the end of the season with the quality for this league.

"We have shown that in the first 15 games of the season. It’s a long season and this international break we are heading into now will help us.

"This season we have been better at seeing games out until this game," added the Sunderland left-back. "With the group we have this year, everyone will learn from it and use it in future I am sure.

"This comes after two draws and to go to QPR, where it is quite hostile, and then Preston as well is a positive. It’s not doom and gloom. We are still unbeaten.

"You can see the identity in the team, the togetherness, especially in the first half. There will always be ups and downs, but we are unbeaten. We know we have the value and quality in the team to take us to the next level."

Sunderland can use the international break as a mini-reset

This three-game stretch - a trio of draws against Queens Park Rangers, Preston North End and a managerless Coventry - is the Black Cats' joint-worst run of the season.

Firstly, that speaks to how good they have been this season, that they can go on a three-game unbeaten run and it's the worst they have done all campaign. It also shows the improved standards at the club since Le Bris took over.

The slip in the last few games has allowed others to catch up with them. Sheffield United are now equal on points with them, and Leeds and Burnley aren't too far behind either.

Over the next couple of weeks, during the international break, Sunderland can get a lot of their players back to full fitness before a tough run of games against Millwall (A), West Bromwich Albion (H) and the Blades (A). Getting back to their previous high levels over the next fortnight will be imperative to them holding onto first place.