Sunderland will still be involved in the League One play-offs this summer - according to the latest predictions from data analysts.
With plenty of twists and turns on the horizon, predicting the final outcomes is a stern challenge - but experts at FiveThirtyEight have risen to the occasion, sharing their predictions for the final standings.
They run statistical analysis of the remaining fixtures to give a win ratio for each game - and an end-of-season league table.
And despite Phil Parkinson's side poor run of form of late, the Black Cats are predicted to finish the campaign in fifth place.
While that's still short of the target of automatic promotion, it still gives Sunderland the chance of promotion in the play-offs.
According to this prediction, Sunderland would face Peterborough United in a two-legged semi-final, with the winners meeting either Wycombe Wanderers or Rotherham in the Wembley final.
Ipswich Town and in-form Oxford United are the two sides tipped for the top two spots, with Rochdale, Bolton and Southend United backed for the drop to League Two.
Sunderland head to Gillingham on Saturday looking to arrest an alarming slump in form and get back in touch with the promotion contenders.
Predicted League One table
1 Ipswich Town
2 Oxford United
3 Wycombe
4 Peterborough
5 Sunderland
6 Rotherham
7 Portsmouth
8 Burton Albion
9 Fleetwood Town
10 Doncaster
11 Blackpool
12 Coventry City
13 Bristol Rovers
14 Shrewsbury
15 Gillingham
16 Lincoln City
17 Accrington Stanley
18 Tranmere Rovers
19 AFC Wimbledon
20 MK Dons
21 Rochdale
22 Bolton
23 Southend United
