Sunderland’s home form has been well documented over the past two years, with the 2017-18 campaign yielding just three wins at the Stadium of Light.
But Jack Ross faced a similar challenge when he arrived at St Mirren, with the Buddies winning one their opening 12 home games during the 2016-17 season.
Four wins and two draws from their final six home outings of the season saw them avoid the drop, though, and they picked up where they left of the following campaign, with Ross guiding the Scottish Championship winners to 14 home wins and just two defeats.
Now, the new Sunderland manager is hoping to repeat the feat at the Stadium of Light, and make the Lads a ‘real force’ on home turf.
“I know it’s very easy for a manager to come in and make promises, as people have heard it all before particularly with the high turnover of managers there are these days.
“But I do genuinely encourage my players to play, and I think if you speak to anyone who has worked under me they will tell you there’s no fear about how they go about their business.”
He continued: “Mistakes will happen – I’ll make them and the players will make them – but it’s about how you react to them and how you learn from them.
“If we’re going to get over that element [of fear at home], and it was very similar when I took over at St Mirren because we had a horrendous home record, we can become a real force at the Stadium of Light.
“If we can get it right, what a powerful place it will be to play.”