Sunderland head into this weekend's clash with Bristol City needing a win to try and restore some pride and feel good factor on Wearside.
The 2-0 win over Cardiff City was one step in the right direction, but a 5-1 calamitous defeat against Blackburn Rovers, two steps backwards.
Red and white supporters made their feelings known with their feet, with the lower bowl almost empty by the time the final whistle blew.
READ MORE: James Hunter: Big decisions need to be made at Sunderland
Interim head coach Mike Dodds slammed his sides performance, or lack thereof, and warned some they wouldn't play for the club again unless things improved.
Dodds has plenty of decisions to make with a number of players returning from injury, talisman Jack Clarke being one of those.
Matty Hewitt
Does Mike Dodds give his wounded group an opportunity to prove themselves or have we seen enough? Does he ring the changes or stick with the starting XI from Blackburn?
With Sunderland's season almost over, in terms of not being able to win promotion or being relegated from the Championship, they have just six games left to restore some pride and heal a disconnect with the fanbase.
I expect we'll see a handful of changes for the clash with Bristol City this weekend.
Anthony Patterson will keep his place in goal, but I'd expect to see Leo Hjelde come back into the side in place of Callum Styles at left-back, Dan Ballard, Luke O'Nien and Trai Hume to complete the back four.
Dodds spoke about Aji Alese being back in contention having played 90 minutes for the Under-21s, but I still think it's best to err on the side of caution. Rushing him back has kept him out for the majority of this season and the Black Cats need him at his best for more than a handful of games at a time.
I'd like to see Chris Rigg come into the side and partner Dan Neil, with a bit of bite in midfield. Sunderland were cut open far too easily against Blackburn and Rigg has that bit of grit that they lacked from the outset.
I'd drop Jobe back into the number ten position to add that little bit of extra physicality in midfield and play the returning Bradley Dack as a number nine, with Jack Clarke - a no brainer - and Abdoullah Ba on either flank.
Predicted Sunderland XI: Patterson; Hjelde, Ballard, O'Nien, Hume; Neil, Rigg, Jobe; Ba, Clarke, Dack.
Joe Ramage
Where do you start, really? Sunderland’s 5-1 defeat to Blackburn Rovers brings about Mike Dodds’ biggest test yet as an interim head coach as to how he approaches the game with Bristol City.
Do you stick in the hope that those who let him down so severely on Easter Monday make amends? Or, as is so tempting, do you rip it all up and demonstrate your disappointment in those players by making several changes?
I suspect it may be somewhere in between. Speaking ahead of the game, Dodds left no doubt as to his mood and how he was still seething from Monday’s game before hinting there could be changes, with players ‘under no illusions’ as to what is expected from the final six games of the Championship season.
Jack Clarke made his return from the bench - to some confusion, given Sunderland we’re 4-0 down at that stage, and he is one who you will almost expect to return to the starting XI this weekend.
Although Dodds has stressed the need for a duty of care when it comes to returning players, if Clarke is ready to go he will come back in for his first start since mid-February and the deaf at Birmingham City.
Patrick Roberts had that faith placed upon him on Monday but the winger managed an hour before being withdrawn in a display which made you question just how fit he was, in what has been a difficult season for the 27-year-old with injuries.
With that in mind, I think we could see Roberts drop back down to the bench, with Dodds rotating both wingers and Abdoullah Ba coming back in. Where does this leave Chris Rigg?
It’s an interesting point given we saw him off the right against Cardiff City where he was so effective, and I fully expect the 16-year-old to return to the starting XI in some way. Could he continue off the right and Ba move centrally? Or will Dodds drop another body back into midfield?
Rigg has shown his versatility and can adjust to either - who he replaces is another debate after differing displays from both Pierre Ekwah and Adil Aouchiche, who has started three consecutive games.
Recommended reading:
Elsewhere, having conceded five, Dodds could be inclined to change things drastically in defence but, in reality, it’s only at left-back where you suspect there could be change given Anthony Patterson, Trai Hume, Luke O’Nien and Dan Ballard would be considered first choice starters. Callum Styles has been deployed at full-back ahead of Leo Hjelde recently, but his favoured role remains in midfield.
Although he wasn’t in the squad on Easter Monday, Saturday could be the perfect game to reintroduce Aji Alese back into the swing of things in an attempt to tighten things up while Nazariy Rusyn’s absence means Jobe Bellingham remains the go-to in attack.
Joe’s predicted XI: Patterson; Hume, O’Nien, Ballard, Alese; Neil, Ekwah, Rigg; Ba, Clarke; Jobe
Read the rules here