This week’s Echo column comes from Gareth Barker.

IT SEEMED unlikely just two weeks ago, but Sunderland are surprisingly close to sealing their Premier League future.

If they do so, it could well be with two games to spare.

But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.

We all know that it would be typical of Sunderland to dive back into the quicksand after hauling themselves out of it.

A lot of credit has to go to Dick Advocaat.

He’s been pragmatic in his approach since arriving in March, adopting a more direct style in an attempt to make more chances happen.

We’ve seen more bodies in the box, and it seems the ball is finally starting to break nicely to players in red and white; that’s been long overdue.

Jermain Defoe has been playing from the left, much to the confusion of some pundits.

You can read the rest here.